CO 
CO 
CM 
OO 
C\J 


-<*>»<>~&-<HH><H><M><H>^><Kv^^ 


A   PAMPHLET 

PUBLISHED    UNDER   AUSPICES  OF   THE 

Savannah,  Florida  4  Western  Railway, 
Brunswick  k  JUtony  Ijail 

AND 

Macon  k  Brunswick  Rail 


COMPILED  BY 


JOSEPH  TILLMAN,  Editor,  and  C.  P.  GOODYEAR,  Associate  Editor, 


Of  "  If 'A  Y~CROSS  REPOR  TKR. 


1881  : 

SAVANNAH  TIMES  STEAM  PRINTING  HOUSE, 
BLANK  BOOK  MANUFACTORY. 


A   PAMPHLET 

PUBLISHED   UNDER   AUSPICES   OF   THE 

Savannah,  Floriia  1  Western  Railway, 
Brunswick  &  JUbany  Ijail  fjoad, 

AND 

Macon  k  Brunswick  Rail 


COMPILED  "BY 

JOSEPH  TILLMAN,  Editor,  and  C.  P.  GOODYEAR,  Associate  Editor, 

Of'WAYCROSS  REPORTER." 


VALUABLE  INFORMATION  TO 

Farmers,  Mai  Stores  Manufacturers,  Timber  Men, 

Lumber  Manufacturers,  Fruit  Growers,  Vegetable 

Growers,  Tourists,  Invalids,  Pleasure  Seekers, 

Travellers,  Parties  Seeking  New  Homes, 


-ANI 


All  who  desire  to  better  their  condition. 


1881. 

SAVANNAH  TIMES  STEAM  PRINTING  HOUSE, 
5  DRAYTON  STREET. 


T-5 


I 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  undersigned,  as  editor  and  associate  editor  of  the  Way- 
cross  Reporter,  are  engaged  by  the  Savannah,  Florida 
Western,  Brunswick  and  Albany  and  Macon  and  Brunswick  Rail- 
road Companies,  which  form  the  railroad  system  of  South  Geor- 
gia, in  advocating  and  preparing  the  public  mind  for  a  compre- 
hensive system  of  immigration  from  the  North,  Northwest  and 
Europe.  A  short  time  since  we  conceived  the  idea  of  the  pre- 
sentation to  our  visitors  at  the  exposition  in  pamphlet  form  of  a 
short  description  of  South  Georgia,  and  with  the  approval  of  the 
railway  companies  named,  present  the  material  in  the  following 
pages,  which  is  a  hasty  condensation  of  matter  appearing  in  the 
files  of  the  Reporter  and  from  other  sources,  lacking  in  literary 
finish,  but  a  truthful  presentation  of  this  section,  and  the  advantages 
it  offers  to  settlers. 

JOSEPH  TILLMAN, 

Editor  Waycross  Reporter. 

C.  P.  GOODYEAR, 

Associate  Editor  Waycross  Reporter. 


M189359 


CHAPTER  I. 

The  Railroad  System  of  South  Georgia. 


The  Savannah,  Florida  and  Western,  Macon  and  Brunswick 
and  Brunswick  and  Albany  Railroads  constitute  the  railway  com- 
munications of  South  Georgia. 

The  Savannah,  Florida  and  Western  Railway,  starting  at 
Savannah,  the  second  cotton  port  in  importance  in  the  South, 
traverses  the  whole  of  Southern  Georgia  to  Bainbridge  on  the 
Flint  river,  237  miles,  with  an  Albany  branch  from  Thomasville, 
58  miles,  a  Florida  division  from  DuPont,  Ga.,  to  Live  Oak, 
Fla.,  48  miles,  and  a  division  from  Waycross,  Ga.,  to  Jackson- 
ville, Fla.,  74  miles  long,  making  a  total  of  417  miles  under  its 
management. 

The  Florida  division  will  soon  be  extended  south  through  the 
whole  length  of  the  Peninsula  of  Florida  to  a  port  on  the  Gulf 
coast,  some  260  miles,  and  the  main  line  will  also  soon  be  ex- 
tended across  the  Chattahoochee  river  to  western  connections 
with  New  Orleans  and  other  points.  This  road  has  long  had  the 
greater  portion  of  the  Western  travel  of  pleasure-seekers  and 
invalids  to  Florida,  and  offers  them  the  corning  season,  through 
its  Waycross  division,  not  only  the  shortest  route,  but  rapid 
traveling  in  the  finest  coaches  that  modern  skill  has  devised,  to 
Jacksonville,  the  terminus  of  the  Waycross  division,  the  Metropo- 
lis of  Florida,  situated  upon  the  lovely  St.  John's  river,  famed  far 
and  wide  for  its  ample  and  excellent  hotels,  rapidly  growing  in 
commercial  importance  and  population,  the  key  to  the  vast  ter- 
ritory drained  by  the  St.  John's  and  Indian  rivers,  and  contain- 
ing in  city  and  suburbs  a  population  of  13,500. 

The  Macon  and  Brunswick  Railroad,  now  a  part  of  the  Cole- 
Seney  syndicates  vast  system  of  roads,  some  2,400  miles  in  length, 
starting  at  Brunswick,  traverses  Southern  Georgia  to  Macon,  189 
miles,  with  a  branch  from  Cochrane  to  Hawkins ville,  10  miles 
long,  and  is  now  rapidly  being  completed  to  Rome,  Ga.,  where 
it  will  connect  with  the  Cole-Seney  system  of  roads  to  Memphis, 


6  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

Selma,  Knoxville,  Chattanooga,  Cincinnati,  the  Shenandoah 
Valley,  Norfolk  and  the  vast  West  and  Northwest.  A  large  num- 
ber of  branch  lines  as  feeders,  it  is  expected,  will  soon  be  built 
in  Georgia. 

The  Brunswick  and  Albany  Railroad,  now  the  property  of  the 
Erlanger-Seligman  syndicates  vast  system  of  roads,  which  have 
been  purchased  and  welded  into  a  system  through  the  exertions 
of  Fred.  Wolffe,  Esq.,  who  occupies  the  same  relation  to  this 
system  that  Col.  Cole  occupies  toward  the  Cole-Seney  syndicate, 
and  Major  Haines  occupies  toward  the  Savannah,  Florida  and 
Western  system,  the  organizing  genius  of  each  having  made 
these  vast  systems  of  roads  a  reality.  Starting  at  Brunswick, 
traverses  South  Georgia  to  Albany,  Ga.,  171  miles,  with  charter 
privileges  to  the  Chattahoochee  river,  and  will  soon  be  completed 
west  to  Selma,  Ala.,  becoming  part  of  an  uninterrupted  through 
line  to  Vicksburg,  thence  to  the  Texas  and  Southern  Pacific 
system,  making  nearly  an  air  line  to  the  Pacific  coast,  the  gaps  in 
which  are  rapidly  being  constructed,  with  branches  to  Memphis, 
New  Orleans,  Chattanooga,  Cincinnati  and  other  points,  with 
projected  branches  in  Georgia,  especially  from  Albany  to  Colum- 
bus, Ga. 

These  three  companies  control  vast  amounts  of  American  and 
foreign  capital,  and  will  all  build  branches  as  feeders  of  their 
main  lines  whenever  the  development  of  the  country  warrants, 
and  are  prepared  to  aid  in  hastening  such  development  by  active 
co-operation  with  the  people  in  any  well  considered  plan  for  a 
comprehensive  system  of  immigration. 

The  rates  of  freight  from  the  North  and  West  by  the  Green 
Line,  and  the  steam  and  packet  communication  at  Savannah  and 
Brunswick,  compare  favorably  with  Northern  rates.  Local  pas- 
senger and  freight  rates  are  low  also.  The  roads  are  never 
blockaded  by  ice  or  snow,  seldom  obstructed  by  floods,  have  easier 
grades,  consequent  increased  hauling  capacity,  and  have  fast 
mails,  ample  post  office  facilities,  and  an  express  system  admirably 
conducted  by  the  Southern  Express  Company,  of  which  H.  B. 
Plant  is  President,  equal  to  the  best  express  service  of  the  North 
and  West.  The  Savannah,  Florida  and  Western  Railway  Com- 
pany, in  connection  with  the  Southern  Express  Company, 
steamers  on  the  St.  John's  river  and  steamships  at  Savannah  and 
Charleston,  and  rail  communication  North  and  West,  through 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  7 

Savannah,  Jesup  and  Albany,  makes  a  specialty  of  transportation 
of  fruits,  vegetables  and  all  classes  of  perishable  agricultural  pro- 
ducts to  Northern  and  Western  markets,  in  cars  specially 
adapted  to  the  purpose,  by  fast  passenger  trains.  Savannah  and 
Brunswick  have  regular  and  ample  steamship  and  packet  com- 
munication with  New  York  and  other  Northern  cities,  and  the 
extension  of  these  lines  West,  as  detailed  in  a  description  of  these 
roads,  will  within  the  next  eighteen  months  add  to  the  facilities 
already  detailed  tenfold. 


CHAPTER  II. 

General  Description  of  South   Georgia. 


Southern  Georgia  is  almost  entirely  comprised  within  the  Pine 
belt,  a  vast  forest  of  pine  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  deep,  and  in 
Georgia  alone,  from  the  Savannah  to  the  Chattahoochee  rivers, 
two  hundred  and  forty  miles  in  length.  The  timber,  lumber  and 
naval  stores  manufactured  from  these  vast  forests  are  eagerly- 
sought  by  all  the  great  markets  of  the  world.  The  land  is  flat 
near  the  coast ;  rolling,  even  hilly,  in  the  interior.  A  chain  of 
islands  extends  along  the  coast,  described  elsewhere,  and  very 
fertile.  The  land  on  the  rivers  is  very  rich  ;  elsewhere  it  is  a 
sandy  loam,  in  most  sections  with  a  clay  subsoil,  is  easily  worked, 
responds  readily  to  enrichment,  and  while  some  portions, 
especially  those  on  the  water  courses  of  the  southwest  and  the 
red  lands  are  very  rich,  nearly  the  whole  is  tillable,  and,  with 
occasional  light  manuring,  continue  to  produce  good  crops  from 
year  to  year.  It  is,  as  a  general  rule,  sparsely  settled,  and  the 
lands  are  the  cheapest  in  the  State.  The  leading  field  products 
are  cotton,  sugar  cane,  corn,  rice,  oats,  potatoes  and  field  peas. 
The  country  being  open,  and  the  pasturage  good  throughout  the 
year,  large  numbers  of  beef  cattle  and  sheep  are  raised  annually 
for  market,  at  a  cost  purely  nominal,  as  they  require  neither  to 
be  fed  nor  sheltered.  See  elsewhere  article  on  sheep  husbandry. 


8  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

Cotton  is  produced  generally  throughout  the  section — the  sea 
island,  or  long  staple  variety,  in  the  counties  bordering  on  Florida 
and  along  the  coast.  This  class  of  cotton  is  used  in  the  manu- 
facture of  the  finer  fabrics,  and  in  combination  with  silk,  but  is 
less  cultivated  than  in  former  years,  the  demand  for  it  having 
been  lessened  by  the  improvement  in  the  staple  and  quality  of 
the  common  cotton,  and  in  the  machinery  for  its  manufacture. 

The  rice  lands  lie  chiefly  on  the  tide  water,  and  are  among  the 
most  valuable  and  productive  on  the  southern  coast.  Consider- 
able rice  is  also  grown,  chiefly  for  home  consumption,  on  inland 
swamps  and  low  lands  in  Middle  as  well  as  in  Lower  Georgia, 
though  the  rice  that  enters  into  commerce  comes  chiefly  from  the 
country  along  the  coast.  Upland  rice  is  also  grown  with  profit 
on  the  pine  lands. 

Sugar  cane  is  also  an  important  crop  of  Southern  Georgia,  and 
could  be  made  among  the  most  profitable.  It  grows  luxuriantly, 
and  yields  profitable  returns  in  sugar  and  syrup.  Yet,  but  little 
sugar  is  made  for  market,  the  planters  usually  confining  them- 
selves to  a  sufficiency  for  home  demand,  and  relying  chiefly  upon 
the  syrup  as  a  marketable  crop.  To  show  the  capacity  of  the 
soil  under  high  culture,  we  mention  one  instance  among  the  many 
of  equal  production  that  are  well  vouched  for.  In  1874,  Mr. 
John  J.  Parker,  of  Thomas  county,  produced,  on  one  acre,  694^ 
gallons  of  cane  syrup,-  worth  seventy-five  cents  per  gallon,  or 
$520  87.  The  total  cost  of  production  was  $77  50,  leaving  a  net 
profit  of  $443  37. 

This  section  of  the  State  also  produces  an  excellent  quality  of 
light  tobacco,  such  as  is  manufactured  into  cigars,  though  the 
plant  will  eventually  run  into  the  heavy  leaf  unless  the  seed  are 
renewed  annually  from  the  West  Indies. 

Except  on  the  Alapaha  river  where  an  extraordinarily  fine 
quality  of  tobacco  has  been  grown  for  more  than  a  generation 
from  the  seed  raised  on  the  soil,  without  deterioration  of  the 
quality  of  the  product. 

South  Georgia  is  well  watered  by  numerous  rivers  and  creeks, 
and  water  is  found  in  inexhaustible  quantities  everywhere  by  dig- 
ging a  depth  of  ten  to  twenty  feet.  By  early  planting  in  January, 
February  and  March,  which  the  exceedingly  mild  climate  makes 
practicable,  droughts  can  be  avoided,  and  a  fall  crop  can  always 
be  raised  after  the  hot  season  of  summer  with  profit.  During  the 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  9 

drought  of  the  past  summer,  when  whole  sections  of  the  south 
and  west  have  been  scorched  and  dried  up  and  their  crops 
ruined,  South  Georgia  has  raised  fair  crops  and  has  been  less 
affected  by  the  drought  than  other  portions  of  the  State.  The 
timber,  lumber  and  naval  stores  interests,  which  are  gigantic  in 
their  proportions,  furnish  a  home  market  for  the  products  of  the 
soil.  There  is  ample  timber,  not  fit  for  lumber,  left  upon  the  lands 
cut  over  by  the  lumber  manufacturers.  There  are,  in  addition  to 
the  yellow  pine,  the  chief  timber  of  the  country,  as  many  as 
twenty-five  varieties  of  wood,  valuable  in  the  manufacture  of 
furniture,  wagons,  carriages  and  other  articles  of  use. 


CHAPTER    III. 

Stations  and  Points  of  Interest  on  the  Savannah, 
Florida  and   Western  Railway. 


SAVANNAH,  GA. 

Savannah,  Chatham,  county,  Georgia,  the  eastern  terminus  of 
the  road,  is  the  principal  city  of  the  State,  situated  on  river  of 
same  name,  eighteen  miles  from  the  sea,  with  a  capacious  and 
well  protected  harbor,  with  from  seventeen  to  twenty-one  feet  of 
water  at  high  and  low  tide.  Improvements  are  now  being  made 
in  the  river  with  a  view  to  obtaining  depth  sufficient  for  any 
vessel. 

Savannah  has  a  population  of  from  3 2,000  to  35,000  inhabitants. 
It  is  the  second  largest  cotton  port  in  the  United  States,  while  its 
shipments  of  rice,  lumber  and  naval  stores  are  immense.  It  is  un- 
questionably the  handsomest  city  in  the  South.  Laid  out  with 
broad  streets,  closely  shaded  by  beautiful  trees  that  are  green  the 
year  round,  it  has  justly  obtained  the  soubriquet  of  the  "Forest 
City." 

The  city  has  ample  transportation  facilities  ;  the  Charleston  & 
Savannah  Railroad  connecting  Charleston  and  the  North ; 
the  Central  (Georgia)  to  Augusta,  Atlanta  and  the  Northwest, 


TO  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

while  the  Savannah  Florida  &  Western  Railway  opens  up  the 
rich  and  growing  sections  of  South  Georgia  and  the  whole  State 
of  Florida.  The  magnificent  steamships  of  the  Ocean  Steamship 
Company  make  semi-weekly  trips  to  New  York,  while  Philadel- 
phia, Baltimore  and  Boston  are  connected  by  weekly  lines  steam- 
ships of  great  capacity  and  elegant  accommodations. 

It  has  some  manufacturing  interests,  viz  :  a  cotton  factory, 
cotton  batting  mill,"  paper  mill,  rice  mills,  foundries,  machine 
shops  and  cotton  seed  oil  mills. 

The  free  school  system  is  admirably  arranged.  Especial  atten- 
tion has  been  given  to  its  sanitary  condition.  Comparative  state- 
ments show  it  to  be  one  of  the  healthiest  cities  in  the  South.  The 
climate  is  better  suited  to  some  invalids  than  points  further  South. 
With  its  excellent  hotel  accommodations,  travelers  will  always 
find  a  sojourn  here  pleasant. 

Forsyth  Park,  twenty  acres  in  area,  is  an  attractive  resort ;  the 
shade  trees  in  it,  composed  mostly  of  pines,  are  of  the  natural 
growth  of  the  forest.  In  the  center  is  a  beautiful  fountain,  after 
the  style  of  those  in  the  Place  de  la  Concordie,  in  Paris.  The 
walks  are  prettily  arranged,  and  covered  with  shell. 

In  the  rear  of  the  Park  is  a  large  enclosure,  known  as  the 
Parade  Ground,  or  Park  Extension,  which  has  been  somewhat 
improved  by  planting  shade  trees,  laying  out  walks,  etc.  The 
Confederate  Monument  recently  erected  here  by  the  Ladies' 
Memorial  Association,  in  point  of  beauty  of  design  and  finish, 
compares  favorably  with  any  in  the  South.  The  corner-stone 
was  laid  on  June  i6th,  1874,  with  Masonic  ceremonies,  Grand 
Master  Irwin,  officiating,  all  the  military  force  of  the  city  being 
present.  The  monument  was  built  after  a  design  furnished  by  Mr. 
R.  Reid,  of  Montreal,  Canada.  It  stands  about  fifty  feet  in 
height,  from  base  to  crown  of  bronze  figure  on  top.  On  the 
base  are  appropriate  mottoes.  The  front  panel  has  a  figure  in 
relief,  representing  the  South  mourning.  The  rear  panel  shows 
another  figure  of  military  character.  The  side  panels  bear  in- 
scription :  one  is  "To  the  Confederate  Dead  :"  on  the  other, 
"Come  from  the  four  winds,  O  Breath,  and  breathe  upon  these 
slain,  that  may  they  live." — EZEK.  XXXIIIQ.  The  whole  is  sur- 
mounted by  an  elegant  bronze  statue  of  a  Confederate  soldier,  in  the 
attitude  of  parade  rest.  The  whole  beautifully  carved,  and  cost, 
when  completed,  $25,000,  exclusive  of  the  cost  of  the  bronze 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.       .  I  I 

statue,  which  latter  is  the  gift  of  a  munificent  wealthy  citizen  of 
Savannah. 

Bonaventure  Cemetery,  three  miles  from  the  city,  only  fifteen 
minutes  ride  by  the  Coast  Line  Railroad,  is  one  of  the.  loveliest 
spots  in  the  country  ;  long  avenues,  arched  by  the  branches  of 
great  live  oak  trees,  from  which  an  immense  quantity  of  gray 
moss  sweeps,  adding  much  to  the  solemnity  of  the  place.  Bona- 
venture derives  its  name  from  the  original  tract  of  which  it  formed 
a  part,  and  which  was  settled  about  1670  by  Col.  John  Mulryne. 
By  the  marriage  of  his  daughter,  in  1761,  to  Josiah  Tattnall,  of 
Charleston,  it  came  in  possession  of  the  latter  family.  This  mar- 
riage is  said  to  have  been  the  occasion  of  the  planting  of  the  trees 
which  adorn  the  place.  It  is  said  that  they  were  planted  in  the 
forms  of  the  letters  M  and  T,  the  initials  of  the  bride's  and 
groom's  respective  family  names. 

Thunderbolt,  the  terminus  of  the  Coast  Line  Railroad,  four 
miles  from  the  city,  the  Scheutzen  Platz,  oil  the  same  line,  Isle  of 
Hope  and  Montgomery,  on  the  Savannah  Skidaway  and  Sea- 
board Railroad,  distant  seven  and  ten  miles  respectively,  are 
pleasant  places  of  resort,  much  frequented  by  the  citizens  of 
Savannah. 

Tybee  Island,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Savannah  river,  and  Beach 
Hammock,  several  miles  south,  are  becoming  very  prominent  as 
seaside  resorts. 

Fort  Pulaski,  on  Cockspur  Island,  near  the  mouth  of  Savan- 
nah river,  was  the  scene  of  a  weary  siege  during  the  late  war. 
The  fort  was  badly  battered  up  by  the  Federal  guns  from  Tybee 
Island.  Since  the  war  it  has  been  thoroughly  repaired. 

Millers,  No.  i,  Chatham  county,  Georgia;  10  miles  from  Savan- 
nah, 2  miles  west  of  the  Little  Ogeechee  river  ;  post  office. 

Ways  Station,  No.  i  u',  Bryan  county,  Georgia  :  16  miles  from 
Savannah  ;  post  office.  Just  east  of  this  station  the  road  crosses 
the  Great  Ogeechee  river,  on  which  are  situated  many  of  the 
largest  rice  fields  in  the  State.  At  Genesis  Point,  below  the 
railroad  bridge,  Fort  McAllister  is  situated,  which  the  Federal 
fleet  made  several  unsuccessful  attempts  to  pass,  to  capture  the 
blockade  runner  " Rattlesnake,"  formerly  the  steamship  Nashville, 
which  was  lying  above.  They  finally  succeeded  in  sinking  it  with 
guns.  Fort  McAllister  was  stormed  from  the  rear,  and  captured 
by  a  portion  of  Sherman's  army,  December  20,  1864. 


I  2  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

Fleming,  No.  2,  Liberty  county,  Georgia ;  24"milesYrom  Savan- 
nah; post  and  telegraph  offices.  Simbury,  15  miles  from  here,  on 
the  coast,  is  one  of  the  oldest  settlements  in  the  State. 

Mclntosll,  No.  3,  Liberty  county,  Georgia;  31  miles  from 
Savannah  ;  post  office.  This  is  the  nearest  station  to  Flemington, 
distant  2^2  miles,  Hinesville,  the  county  site,  5  miles,  and  Rice- 
boro,  10  miles. 

Walthourville,  No.  4,  Liberty  county,  Georgia;  38  miles  from 
Savannah ;  post  office.  The  village  of  same  name,  i  yz  miles 
from  the  station,  is  pleasantly  located,  and  was  formerly  the  home 
of  many  of  the  wealthy  planters  from  the  coast,  and  was  noted 
for  the  intelligence  and  refinement  of  its  society ;  there  are  a  few 
of  the  old  families  still  residing  there. 

Johnston,  No.  4^,  Liberty  county,  Georgia;  46  miles  from 
Savannah;  post  office.  Six  and  a  half  miles  from  this  station, 
the  road  crosses  the  Altamaha  river,  on  a  lattice  bridge  with  four 
spans.  This  river  is  one  of  the  largest  in  the  State.  It  is  formed 
by  the  junction  of  the  Oconee  and  Ocmulgee  rivers;  the  former 
is  navigable  for  steamers  to  Dublin,  and  the  latter  to  Macon. 
Large  quantities  of  lumber,  etc.,  are  shipped  by  this  river  to 
Darien,  Ga.,  at  its  mouth,  on  the  coast. 

Doctortown,  No.  5,  Wayne  county,  Georgia ;  53  miles  from 
Savannah  ;  post  office.  This  station  is  the  site  of  an  old  Indian 
town,  and  the  former  abode  of  a  celebrated  "medicine  man ;" 
hence  the  name  of  the  place. 

Jesup,  No.  6,  Wayne  county, Georgia;  57  miles  from  Savannah: 
county  seat;  telegraph  office  and  junction  of  the  Macon  and 
Brunswick  Railroad;  40  miles  from  Brunswick  and  146  from 
Macon.  The  new  and  commodious  "Altamaha  Hotel"  here  will 
accommodate  100  guests.  The  hotel  is  also  the  eating  house  for 
passengers  via  the  Macon  and  Brunswick  Railroad ;  trains  stop 
20  minutes  for  meals.  A  weekly  paper,  the  Jesup  Sentinel,  is 
published  here.  The  pLice  is  growing  rapidly  ;  population  750. 

Screven,  No.  7,  Wayne  county,  Georgia ;  68  miles  from 
Savannah ;  post  and  express  offices. 

Patterson,  No.  7^,  Pierce  county,  Georgia;  78  miles  from 
Savannah ;  post  office.  On  the  line  of  the  road  in  vicinity  of  this 
place  are  located  a  number  of  steam  saw  mills  for  cutting  yellow 
pine  lumber. 

Blackshear,   No.  8,  Pierce   county,   Georgia ;  86   miles   from 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  1 3 

Savannah;  population  about  1,200.  This  point  offers  many 
inducements  to  those  seeking  health  and  winter  homes  in  the 
South.  The  society  is  good,  and  many  evidences  are  presented 
of  steady,  permanent  growth.  It  is  situated  in  the  great  pine 
belt  of  Georgia  ;  land  in  this  section  is  slightly  rolling,  hence  is 
well  drained ;  climate  is  delightful  and  healthy  the  year  round  ; 
land  is  cheap  and  the  inhabitants  kindly  disposed  to  settlers. 
Brown's  Hotel,  recently  built,  will  accommodate  40  to  50. 
Knowles'  House  will  accommodate  about  30.  Board,  per  day, 
$1.50;  per  week,  $6.00;  per  month,  $15  to  $20. 

Way  cross,  Ware  county,  Georgia  ;  96  miles  from  Savannah  ; 
county  seat;  post  office;  population,  600;  junction  of  Brunswick 
and  Albany  Railroad.  This  town  was  laid  out  in  1872.  It  stands 
on  a  sandy  ridge,  with  clay  subsoil,  and  a  clear,  bold  stream  of 
running  water  on  the  south.  From  its  advantageous  position,  it 
bids  fair  to  become  a  place  of  some  note,  and  has  already  attracted 
the  notice  of  a  colony  from  New  Jersey,  many  of  whom  have 
recently  made  their  homes  here,  attracted  by  the  advantages  of 
good  land,  cheap  homesteads,  and  the  general  thrifty  appearance 
of  the  town. 

Tebeauville,  No.  9,  Ware  county,  Georgia;  97  miles  from 
Savannah  ;  post  and  telegraph  offices.  This  is  a  place  near  the 
northern  portion  of  the  celebrated  Okefenokee  Swamp,  which 
abounds  with  game  of  all  descriptions. 

Grlenmore,  No.  10,  Ware  county,  Georgia ;  108  miles  from 
Savannah  ;  post  office. 

Argyle,  No.  10^,  Clinch  county,  Georgia;  116  miles  from 
Savannah. 

Homerville,  No.  u,  Clinch  county,  Georgia;  122  miles  from 
Savannah  ;  post  office ;  county  seat ;  population,  350  ;  academy 
Methodist  and  Baptist  churches. 

DuPont,  No.  12,  Clinch  county,  Georgia;  131  miles  from 
Savannah ;  telegraph  and  post  offices ;  junction  with  the  Florida 
division  of  the  Savannah,  Florida  and  Western  Railroad. 
Located  on  heavy  timbered  pine  lands.  The  health  of  DuPont 
and  surrounding  country  is  unparalleled ;  no  typhoid  or  other 
miasmatic  sickness.  As  a  farming  country,  it  is  pronounced  by 
experienced  planters  to  be  superior  to  Virginia  or  Carolina ;  the 
range  is  good  for  cattle  and  hogs.  Cheap  lands  in  abundance 
for  emigrants,  much  of  it  from  fifty  cents  to  one  dollar  per  acre. 


14  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

Stockton,  No.  13,  Clinch  county,  Georgia;  138  miles  from 
Savannah;  post  office;  population,  150.  The  village  is  pleas- 
antly located  in  an  elevated  pine  region.  There  is  a  pottery 
located  here,  which  makes  a  superior  article  of  earthen  ware  for 
domestic  use. 

Xaylor,  No.  14,  Lowndes  county,  Georgia;  144  miles  from 
Savannah;  population,  100;  post  office,  one  church,  one  hotel, 
one  academy,  one  saw  mill,  and  three  stores  ;  healthy  locality. 
Lands  sell  from  $1.00  to  $5.00  per  acre.  The  productions  of 
surrounding  country  are  long  and  short  cotton,  corn,  rice,  oats, 
sweet  potatoes,  sugar  cane,  and  all  kinds  of  vegetables.  The 
Alapaha  river,  two  miles  distant,  abounds  in  fish.  Milltown,  a 
village  ten  miles  distant,  and  near  the  famous  Banks  Mill  Pond  ; 
area  of  pond  ten  square  miles  ;  water  sufficient  to  drive  a  large 
amount  of  machinery .  Nashville,  county  seat  of  Berrien  county, 
27  miles  distant ;  excellent  section  for  farming-,  hog,  sheep  and 
cattle  raising. 

Valdosta,  No.  15,  Lowndes  county,  Georgia;  157  miles  from 
Savannah ;  post  and  telegraph  offices  ;  county  seat ;  population 
about  2,000.  This  is  a  place  of  considerable  importance  in  this 
section.  Surrounded  by  a  very  fertile  country,  entirely  free  from 
malaria,  it  offers  many  inducements  to  settlers.  Cotton,  grain  of 
all  kinds,  (especially  corn,  wheat  and  oats,)  sugar  cane,  potatoes, 
and  the  products  of  this  section  are  abundantly  produced.  The 
winters  are  mild  and  pleasant,  and  the  invalid  may  here  find  a 
cheap  and  comfortable  home.  The  town  is  finely  situated  and 
neatly  laid  off,  containing  many  brick  store  houses,  and  a  new 
brick  court  house.  There  are  four  churches — Methodist,  Baptist, 
Presbyterian  and  Christian — several  schools,  a  well-kept  hotel, 
and  a  bank.  The  Valdosta  Times  *  a  weekly  newspaper,  is  pub- 
lished here.  The  trade  of  the  place  supports  some  26  stores. 
Good  farming  lands  in  the  vicinity  can  be  bought  at  from  $1.00 
to  $5.00  per  acre,  depending  upon  improvement.  At  this  point 
the  "cotton  belt"  of  Georgia  begins.  To  parties  seeking  invest- 
ment in  lands,  or  permanent  homes  in  the  South,  or  a  place  to 
spend  a  winter  pleasantly,  Valdosta  presents  many  inducements. 
Name  of  hotel — Stuart's  Railroad  House,  C.  T.  Stuart,  pro- 
prietor ;  accommodation  for  fifty  ;  opposite  Savannah,  Florida 
and  Western  Railway  depot.  Rates  of  board,  $2.00  per  day; 
818.00  to  $25.00  per  month.  Board  can  be  had  in  private  houses 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  I  5 

at  $10.00  to  $15.00  per  month.  There  are  three  livery  stables 
here,  which  furnish  good  teams  at  moderate  rates. 

Ousley,  No.  15^,  Lowndes  county,  Georgia  ;  166  miles  from 
Savannah  ;  post  office.  One  and  a  half  miles  west  of  this  station 
the  road  crosses  the  Withlacoochee  river,  near  which  is  the 
Boston  or  Blue  Springs.  These  Springs  have  quite  a  reputation, 
and  are  much  frequented  by  the  people  of  the  adjacent  country. 

Qui  tin  ail.  No.  1 6,  Brooks  county,  Georgia  ;  174  miles  from 
Savannah;  post  office,  money  order  and  telegraph  offices  ;  county 
seat ;  population  about  2,000.  This  town  is  situated  in  the  midst  of 
one  of  the  finest  farming  sections  of  Southwestern  Georgia.  The 
principal  productions  of  the  county  are  corn,  cotton,  oats,  rye, 
ground-peas,  field-peas,  sugar  cane,  potatoes,  Irish  and  sweet, 
and  rice.  Some  wheat  has  been  raised  in  the  county,  but  has  not 
been  generally  sown,  owing  to  the  want  of  flouring  mills.  Almost 
all  kinds  of  vegetables  are  grown  here.  Peas,  beets,  squashes, 
cucumbers,  onions,  radishes,  cabbages,  tomatoes,  strawberries, 
etc.,  are  grown  in  great  quantities.  Watermelons,  muskmelons, 
cantelopes  and  pumpkins  do  remarkably  well.  In  fact,  every  and 
all  kinds  of  common  products  for  which  the  human  family  find 
a  relish  are  grown  here  in  bountiful  supply.  Some  of  these 
products. can  be  made  to  yield  two  and  three  times  a  year,  such 
as  Irish  potatoes  and  field-peas. 

The  average  yield  of  corn  is  10  bushels  per  acre,  though  it  has 
been  increased  to  90  bushels  per  acre.  Improved  farming  has 
increased  the  yield,  in  very  many  instances,  to  30  and  40  bushels 
to  the  acre.  The  average  yield  of  oats  is  15  bushels  per  acre, 
cotton  a  bale  of  soopouuds  to  three  acres,  rye  8  to  12  bushels, 
ground-peas  20  to  30  bushels.  Sugar  cane  yields  from  300  to 
to  550  gallons  syrup  per  acre,  and  other  things  in  the  same  pro- 
portion. Attention  is  now  being  directed  to  fruit,  and  vegetable 
market  gardening,  and  whenever  it  has  been  tried,  success  has 
been  the  result,  the  railroads  offering  every  facility  for  shipping 
these  early  products.  Taxes  are  exceeding  moderate — the 
average  aggregate  State  and  county  tax  being  about  7^2  mills. 
Land  is  readily  purchased  in  desirable  quantities,  and  at  prices 
varying  from  $1.00  to  $20.00  per  acre,  according  to  quality.  The 
climate  is  delightful,  and  free  from  malarial  diseases.  The  in- 
habitants of  this  section  are  progressive  and  intelligent,  and  alive 
to  the  importance  of  immigration.  The  town  of  Quitman  is 


1 6  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

eligibly  situated,  and  contains  five  churches — three  white  and 
two  colored ;  also,  a  flourishing  school.  Seven  miles  east  from 
Quitman,  in  said  county,  is  a  large,  bold,  limestone  spring,  about 
one  hundred  feet  in  circumference,  and  fifteen  feet  in  its  deepest 
part.  This  is  quite  a  resort  as  a  watering  place,  there  being 
near — just  across  the  county  line,  but  within  a  few  hundred  yards 
— a  fine  sulphur  spring  of  efficacious  medicinal  qualities. 

Dixie,  No.  17,  Brooks  county,  Georgia;  181  miles  from 
Savannah ;  post  and  express  offices.  Grooverville  is  6  miles 
distant. 

Boston,  No.  1 8,  Thomas  county,  Georgia;  188  miles  from 
Savannah  ;  9  miles  from  the  Florida  line ;  i  mile  from  the  Aucilla 
creek ;  2  miles  from  Piscola  creek ;  population  500 ;  post  and 
express  offices,  and  Masonic  Lodge  and  Patrons  of  Husbandry. 
Five  churches  in  this  place,  Baptist,  Presbyterian  and  Methodist, 
and  colored  Baptist  and  Methodist  ;  also,  good  male  and  female 
schools.  Boston  is  pleasantly  situated,  and  extremely  healthy. 
Water  good,  in  wells,  and  plenty  of  spring  water  in  the  incorpo- 
rate limits.  Boston  is  entirely  surrounded  by  the  best  average 
farming  lands  in  the  State ;  very  productive  of  corn,  peas, 
potatoes,  oats,  highland  rice,  sugar  cane  and  cotton,  and  ad- 
mirably adapted  to  fruit,  when  cultivated,  especially  grapes,  pears, 
peaches,  plums,  apples  and  tropical  fruits.  The  very  finest  water- 
melons abound  in  all  parts  of  the  country,  in  their  season.  These 
lands  can  be  bought  at  prices  ranging  from  $5.00  to  $8.00  per 
acre  for  improved,  and  from  $1.00  to  $4.00  per  acre  for  grazing. 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 


(Contributed  by  JOHN  TRIPLET,  Editor  Thomasville   Times.} 

THOMAS  COUNTY,  GA. 

A   Fair  Sample  of  the  Interior   Counties  of  South 

Georgia. 


The  natural  advantages  for  man's  sustenance  and  enjoyment 
are  more  equally  distributed  throughout  the  earth  than  is 
generally  supposed ;  but  when  the  climate,  the  seasons,  the  water 
courses,  the  soil  and  its  varied  productions,  the  proximity  to  the 
great  highways  of  commerce,  and  the  topography  of 

THOMAS    COUNTY,   GEORGIA, 

are  duly  considered  and  compared  with  the  advantages  of  other 
sections,  nature  will  be  found  to  have  expended  here  more  than 
an  average  share  of  her  blessing. 

LOCALITY. 

Thomas  county  lies  in  the  southwestern  portion  of  the  State, 
being  bounded  on  the  south  by  Florida,  and  having  only  one 
county  (Decatur)  on  the  west  between  it  and  Alabama,  The 
Savannah,  Florida  and  Western  Railway,  from  Savannah  to 
Bainbridge,  runs  through  from  east  to  west,  dividing  the  county 
into  two  nearly  equal  sections,  and  touching  its  county  site, 
Thomasville,  exactly  two  hundred  miles  westward  from  Savannah. 
The  South  Georgia  and  Florida  Railroad,  fifty-eight  miles  long, 
starts  at  Thomasville  and  connects  at  Albany  with  the  South- 
western Railroad,  and  the  entire  railway  system  of  the  State,  and 
of  Alabama  by  way  of  Eufaula  and  Montgomery. 

Arrangements  are  being  made  to  extend  the  Savannah,  Florida 
and  Western  Railway  so  as  to  make  an  direct  connection 
with  New  Orleans.  Thus  this  section  will  be  on  the  great  high- 
way between  New  Orleans  and  the  nearest  Atlantic  port.  Over 
this  route  will,  necessarily  and  naturally,  flow  a  large  portion  of 
the  productions  of  the  Mississippi  valley. 


1 8  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

THE    CLIMATE. 

Lying,  as  it  does,  but  a  few  degrees  north  of  the  tropics,  snow  is 
seen  only  about  once  or  twice  in  an  ordinary  lifetime, and  the  ground 
never  freezes  enough  to  prevent  the  entrance  of  the  plow  ;  while 
in  summer,  the  heat  of  an  almost  vertical  sun  is  tempered  by 
breezes  from  the  Gulf  and  the  Atlantic  that  the  thermometer 
rarely  ever  registers  more  than  ninety  degrees  in  the  shade,  and 
the  nights  are  never  oppressively,  nor  even  uncomfortably  warm. 
The  disagreeable  "Northers"  of  the  western  plains  in  the  same 
latitude  are  never  known  in  this  section,  nor  the  sudden  changes 
from  heat  to  cold  so  common  in  the  Atlantic  States  a  few  degrees 
north  of  this  section.  Laboring  men  can  work  twelve  months  in 
the  year  in  this  county  and  have  perfect  health  at  the  same  time. 
It  is  as  free  from  malaria  and  all  climatic  diseases  as  any  portion 
of  the  west  or  northwest. 

ITS    SALUBRITY 

is  in  fact  not  surpassed  by  that  of  any  section  of  the  whole 
country.  Those  dreadful  scourges,  cholera  and  yellow  fever, 
have  never  yet  penetrated  to  this  section ;  lung  diseases  are  very 
rare,  and  usually  of  a  mild  type;  and  typhoid  fevers  are  com- 
paratively unknown  and  much  less  severe  than  in  more  northern 
and  elevated  regions. 

THE    SEASONS. 

As  there  are  no  extremes  of  heat  or  cold,  so  there  is  an 
exemption  of  such  floods  or  droughts  as  sometimes  visit  the 
northern  and  western  sections  of  the  Union.  No  such  thing  as  a 
general  failure  of  crops  has  ever  been  known  in  Thomas  county. 
Small  grain  may  be  sown  whenever  convenient,  from  September 
to  February.  Potatoes  will  produce  good  crops  planted  any 
time  during  the  first  six  months  of  the  year,  and  two  crops  are 
often  made  on  the  same  ground.  Sweet  potatoes  are  planted 
from  February  to  July  and  from  May  to  July ;  the  "draws"  or 
cuttings  from  the  vines  already  growing  "being  set  out"  instead 
of  planting  the  seed  potatoes.  Turnips  are  sown  in  July,  August 
and  Septmeber,  and  also  in  February  and  March  for  spring  crop. 
Corn  is  planted  from  February  to  June,  cotton,  generally  in  April ; 
sugar  cane,  in  February  and  March. 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  19 

There  is  not  a  month  in  the  year  that  a  farmer  may  not  plant 
some  crop  and  gather  some  other. 

WATER    COURSES. 

The  Ocklockonee  River  in  the  west,  and  the  Aucilla  in  the 
eastern  portion  of  the  county,  with  their  numerous  tributaries 
from  living  springs,  furnish  an  abundance  of  good,  pure  freestone 
water  for  all  purposes.  Good  freestone  water  can  also  be  had 
from  wells  in  any  part  of  the  count^  at  an  average  depth  of 
twenty-five  feet. 

THE    SOIL. 

The  surface  of  the  county  is  undulating  with  a  variety  of  soil 
adapted  to  almost  any  and  all  kinds  of  agricultural  and  horticul- 
tural products.  Cotton  and  corn  are  the  principal  productions, 
but  rice,  sugar-cane,  oats,  rye,  pindars,  and  peas  are  as  profitably 
grown.  From  ten  to  fifty  bushels  of  corn  are  produced  to  the 
acre ;  from  ten  to  fifty  bushels  of  rice,  from  fifty  to  two  hundred 
bushels  of  Irish  potatoes,  from  one  to  three  hundred  bushels  of 
sweet  potatoes,  from  one  to  three  hundred  bushels  of 
turnips,  from  two  to  four  hundred  gallons  of  good  syrup  from 
sugar-cane,  and  from  one  bale  of  cotton  to  five  acres,  to  one  bale 
per  acre. 

Under  the  intensive  system  of  farming,  the  soil  is  capable  of 
producing  very  large  crops.  One  hundred  and  nineteen  bushels 
of  corn,  ninety-five  bushels  of  oats,  seven  hundred  and  five  gal- 
lons of  syrup,  eighty-four  bushels  of  rice,  each,  have  been  made 
to  the  acre. 

STOCK. 

and  poultry,  of  almost  every  kind,  are  easily  raised  here.  Of 
the  former,  horses,  cattle,  hogs,  sheep  and  goajts,  with  proper  at- 
tention, can  be  luade  very  profitable ;  the  large  area  of  unculti- 
vated lands  being  specially  adapted  to  the  purpose. 

MELONS    AND    FRUIT. 

Melons  of  every  variety  and  of  superior  size  and  quality  are 
grown  throughout  the  county,  while  fruits,  such  as  peaches 
apples,  pears,  figs  and  plums,  grow  luxuriously  and  bear  bounti- 


20  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

fully.  Among  the  small  fruits,  such  as  raspberries,  strawberries, 
etc.,  as  fine  specimens  may  be  seen'  here  as  can  be  found  any- 
where. 

Here  may  be  seen  some  of  the  finest  orchards  in  existence  of 
the  famous  LeConte  pear.  It  is  one  of  the  most  rapid  growers 
of  the  pear  family,  yields  largely  and  compares  in  size  and  flavor 
with  the  standard  varieties.  Thomas  county  and  the  whole  of 
South  Georgia  is  the  home  of  this  prolific  fruit.  A  specimen  of 
the  trees — a  five-year-old* — will  be  set  out  on  the  Exposition 
grounds. 

GRAPES. 

Recent  experiments  have  fully  demonstrated  the  fact  that  the 
growing  of  the  grape,  both  for  table  use  and  the  manufacture  of 
wine,  is  a  complete  success,  and  promises,  ere  long,  to  become  a 
source  of  considerable  profit.  All  the  leading  varieties,  Scup- 
pernong,  Hartford,  Concord,  Delaware,  etc.,  etc.,  are  grown  in 
the  highest  perfection  in  the  vineyard,  while  the  woodlands 
abound  with  the  wild  varieties. 

THE    MORALS 

of  the  people  of  Thomas  county  are  decidedly  good.  Schools 
and  churches  are  well  attended,  and  are  so  numerous  as  to  afford 
every  community  the  advantage  of  both.  In  addition  to  the 
usual  number  of  private  schools,  there  are  several  public  schools 
in  successful  operation. 

LABOR 

is  plentiful,  cheap  and  easily  controlled.  Field  hands  command 
usually  from  $7  to  $10  per  month,  and,  when  properly  directed, 
pay  a  handsome  profit  to  the  employer. 

PRICE    OF    LANDS. 

Lands  can  be  bought  at  from  $i  to  $10  per  acre,  according  to 
quality  and  location,  and  are  accessible  to  the  county  site  (Thorn - 
asville)  and  the  railroad  depots,  over  public  roads  that  can  not 
be  surpassed  in  the  Southern  country. 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 


THOMASVILLE,  GA. 


Having  gone  over,  in  brief,  some  of  the  Agricultural  resources 
and  advantages  of  the  County,  we  now  come  to  the  fast  growing 
town  of  Thomasville,  the  metropolis  of  Southern  Georgia.  The 
town  is  situated  within  ten  hours  run  of  Georgia's  Great  Atlantic 
seaport  towns,  Savannah  and  Brunswick,  and  within  sixty  miles 
of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  from  whose  broad  expanse  of  waters  come 
wafted  to  us  a  sea  breeze  robbed  of  its  humidity  by  its  passage 
inland  and  laden  with  the  rich  aroma  of  the  vast  pine  forests  lying 
between  this  and  the  coast. 

To  the  stranger  seeking  a  home,  health  is  one  of  his  first  and 
highest  objects.  We  can  not  throw  more  light  upon  this  subject 
than  by  incorporating  herewith  the  report  of  one  of  Georgia's 
most  distinguished  physicians  to  the  late  Medical  Association  of 
the  State  of  Georgia  at  their  last  annual  meeting.  This  body  is 
distinguished  alike  for  the  high  professional  standard  attained  by 
its  members  and  the  wisdom  of  its  deliberations  as  a  body. 

In  reference  to  Thomasville  as  a  winter  resort  for  invalids,  we 
quote  the  following  from  the  report  of  Doctor  T.  S.  Hopkins, 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  the  practice  of  Medicine,  second 
Congressional  District,  on  "  The  Pine  Forests  of  Southern  Geor- 
gia, its  Climate  and  Adaptability  to  the  Consumptive/'  read  be- 
fore the  Medical  Association  of  Georgia,  at  its  twenty-fifth  an- 
nual convocation,  on  the  second  day  of  April,  1874,  at  Thomas- 
ville, Georgia : 

"  A  professional  experience  of  nearly  thirty  years  in  that  portion 
of  the  Pine  Belt  of  our  State,  lying  between  the  Flint  and  Alta- 
maha  rivers,  has  afforded  me  ample  evidence  of  its  peculiar 
adaptability  to  the  consumptive.  It  is  of  rare  occurrence,  in  our 
travels  through  that  entire  district,  to  find  a  case  of  consumption, 
and  when  found,  it  can  be,  in  almost  every  instance,  traced  to 
hereditary  transmission.  I  doubt  if  there  is  on  the  globe  any 
region  of  country,  of  the  same  extent,  more  exempt  from  all  dis- 
eases of  the  respiratory  organs.  I  have  often  been  surprised  at 
the  rapid  improvement  in  my  consumptive  cases,  after  removal 


22  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

from  the  seaboard  into  that  region.  I  have  never  seen  a  case  of 
Pulmonary  Tuberculocis  in  that  section  of  country  that  could  be 
attributed  to  climatic  influence.  While  I  do  not  hestitate  to  rec- 
ommend the  entire  district  as  a  safe  resort  for  the  consumptive, 
I  must  admit  that  certain  localities  therein  possess  advantages 
superior  to  others.  With  my  knowledge  of  the  country,  if  an 
invalid,  seeking  a  winter  resort,  I  would  select  Thomas  County, 
and  preferably  the  town  of  Thomasville,  on  account  of  its  eleva- 
vation,  its  thorough  natural  drainage,  its  pure  and  delightful  free- 
stone waters,  its  dryness,  its  equability  of  temperature,  and  its 
remoteness  from  the  sea.  This  town,  with  a  population  of  three 
thousand,  is  situated  in  latitude  30  deg.  40  north,  and  longitude 
8  deg.  40  east.  It  occupies  the  greatest  elevation  of  any  town 
between  the  Atlantic  and  Gulf  of  Mexico,  at  the  dividing  point 
of  the  waters  flowing  into  them — two  hundred  miles  from  the 
former,  and  sixty  miles  to  the  nearest  point  on  the  latter,  in  the 
midst  of  a  vast  pine  forest  of  almost  unlimited  extent.  Thus  sit- 
uated the  winds  from  the  ocean  reach  it  sifted  of  all  saline  vapor 
and  moisture,  comparatively  warm  and  innoxious.  The  natural 
drainage  of  the  town  is  excellent,  fully  adequate  to  the  speedy 
removal  of  all  the  water  that  falls.  In  a  lew  hours  after  the 
heaviest  fall  of  rain  the  streets  are  dry  and  the  atmosphere  as 
clear  and  balmy  as  though  no  rain  had  fallen.  In  consequence 
of  the  rapidity  with  which  the  water  is  carried  off,  there  is  but  lit- 
tle absorption,  hence  but  little  evaporation,  and,  as  a  conse- 
quence, less  moisture  than  at  other  points  less  favorably  situated* 
There  are  no  bodies  of  water  within  eighteen  miles  of  the  town, 
and  the  nearest  river  is  four  miles  distant.  ,  Fogs,  which  are  the 
rule  on  the  coast y  are  the  exceptions  here.  During  the  past  win- 
ter the  mercury  was  at  the  freezing  point  but  three  times,  and 
then  only  for  a  few  days. 

"Some  months  since  I  addressed  a  circular  letter  to  all  the 
physicians  with  whom  I  was  acquainted,  as  well  as  to  those  wrhose 
names  were  furnished  me,  practicing  in  the  district  of  country 
referred  to  in  this  report,  requesting  them  to  furnish  me  the 
number  of  cases  of  Phthisis  Pulmonalis  coming  to  their  knowledge 
in  their  respective  counties  during  the  year  1873.  Twenty 
physicians  wrere  kind  enough  to  respond  :  The  total  number  of 
cases  reported  is  three  >  two  of  which  are  attributed  to  hereditary 
transmission  ;  cause  of  the  other  not  given.  Thus,  in  a  popula- 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  23 

tion  of  fifty  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eighty -seven,  we  have 
but  three  cases  of  consumption  reported  for  the  year  1873.  I  am 
satisfied  that  no  other  section  of  country  can  make  a  more  favor- 
able report.  Surely,  a  climate  where  consumption  so  rarely  oc- 
curs must  be  a  safe  climate  for  those  in  whom  that  disease  exists." 

Immediately  after  the  reading  of  the  report,  Dr.  H.  V.  M. 
Miller,  of  Atlanta,  offered  the  following  resolution,  which  was 
unanimously  adopted  by  the  association  : 

"  Resolved,  That  this  association  earnestly  and  fully  endorse 
the  opinions  and  statements  contained  in  the  paper  just  read  by 
Dr.  T.  S.  Hopkins,  and  in  view  of  its  importance  to  the  whole 
country,  desire  to  give  to  it  the  widest  possible  publicity." 

As  an  evidence  that  the  facts  set  forth  above  are  true,  and  are 
being  widely  disseminated  and  appreciated,  it  is  only  necessary 
to  refer  to  the  hundreds  from  the  North  and  West,  who  have  for 
several  winters  past  sought  this  place  as  an  asylum  from  the 
rigors  of  a  Northern  climate.  The  Mitchell  House,  erected  with 
a  special  view  of  accommodating  Northern  visitors,  is  one  of  the 
largest,  most  modern  and  well  arranged  hotels  in  the  South.  It 
was  first  opened  in  1876,  and  has  been  crowded  every  season 
since.  Although  large  and  extensive  in  its  original  construction, 
the  proprietor  has  found  it  necessary  to  add  over  sixty  rooms, 
in  order  to  accommodate  the  increasing  patronage.  The  hotel 
has  been  leased  for  a  term  of  years  by  M.  A.  Bower,  who  is  run- 
ning the  house  in  a  style  which  will  compare  favorably  with  any 
first-class  hotel  North  or  South.  Col.  J.  E.  Bradford,  one  of  the 
most  popular  and  well  known  hotel  men  in  the  North,  is  general 
manager  of  the  house. 

In  addition  to  the  Mitchell  House,  there  is  the  Gulf  House, 
situated  near  the  depot,  also  well  kept  and  well  conducted. 
Another  new  hotel,  near  the  center  of  the  town,  is  being  erected, 
and  will  be  ready  for  guests  the  corning  winter.  Besides  these 
there  are  many  boarding  houses,  both  public  and  private,  where 
board  can  be  obtained  at  reasonable  rates. 

Thomasville  is  fast  growing  into  an  educational  center.  ^  The 
Young  Female  College,  and  the  South  Georgia  Agricultural  Col- 
lege (male)  are  located  here.  The  latter  is  a  branch  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Georgia,  and  the  tuition  is  free.  Both  institutions  are 
ably  officered  and  well  conducted.  The  following  denominations 
are  represented  in  the  place :  Methodists,  Baptists,  Presbyteri- 


24  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

ans,  Episcopalians,  Christians  and  Catholics.  The  latter  two 
have  no  church,  but  hold  regular  services  in  commodious  build- 
ings. 

The  society  of  the  town  is  equal  to  any  in  the  State.  The 
place  is  noted  for  its  morality,  and  the  reputation  of  its  citizens 
for  attending  to  their  own  business. 

Strangers  who  come  here  to  settle,  or  upon  pleasure,  are 
treated  kindly  and  cordially.  The  people  gladly  welcome  any 
who  come  for  the  purpose  of  locating  and  developing  the  coun- 
try. They  want  good  citizens,  come  they  from  whatever  section 
they  may. 

The  citizens  of  Thomasville  are  liberal  in  their  views.  Con- 
scientiously holding  and  practicing  their  own  views,  religious 
and  political,  they  accord  the  same  right  to  others.  They  are 
always  ready  and  willing  to  grant  that  to  others  which  they 
claim  for  themselves.  In  no  section  of  the  South  are  visitors 
met  with  more  genuine  Southern  hospitality.  To  complete  the 
foregoing  sketch  the  following  letter  is  appended.  It  was  written 
by  a  Northern  gentleman  who  settled  in  Thomasville : 

Thomasville,  Georgia,  May  30,  1876. 
H.  S.  L.  MORSE  ESQ.,  Boston,  Mass. 

'  Dear  Sir:  In  reply  to  yours  of  the  22nd  inst.,  making  enquiries  about 
this  place,  and  asking  my  advice  in  relation  to  coming  here  to  live,  per- 
mit me  to  say  that  I  do  not  like  to  advise  you  about  your  business 
affairs,  but  I  will  freely  give  you  the  benefit  of  my  experience  and  im- 
pressions after  nearly  two  years  residence  in  this  place.  I  traveled 
through  nearly  every  Southern  State,  including  Florida,  in  search  of  a 
pleasant  home  in  a  mild  climate,  more  especially  on  account  of  my 
health,  and  this  place  suited  my  ideas,  as  a  Massachusetts  man,  more 
perfectly  than  any  other  one  that  I  saw.  First  of  all  on  account  of  its 
healthful  advantages  and  locality,  next  in  the  intelligence  and  public 
spirit  of  the  people,  also  its  religious  and  educational  advantages.  We 
have  here  six  churches  in  all,  a  female  college,  and  a  boys  seminary, 
both  of  a  high  order,  and  several  superior  private  schools,  and  one  or 
more  supported  by  public  funds. 

Thomasville  is  a  lively  thriving  town,  handsomely  laid  out,  containing 
a  city  hall,  court  house,  and  jail,  a  large  hotel  that  would  be  a  credit  to 
any  city,  wide  streets,  beautifully  shaded  with  evergreen  oaks,  mag- 
nolias, etc.  To  me  the  climate  is  charming,  the  summers  are  long  but 
no  warmer  than  the  warmest  weather  of  New  England ;  the  winters  are 
the  crowning  glory  of  all,  with  week  after  week  of  bright  sunshine,  and 
but  a  few  days  tha  make  a  fire  necessary,  particularly  adapted  to  the 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  25 

comfort  of  invalids.  This  town  is  becoming  a  favorite  resort  to  such 
persons  during  the  winter.  The  water  is  good  and  plentiful.  The  soil 
is  very  generous  in  its  productions  with  only  moderately  good  cultiva- 
tion ;  the  staple  products  are  rice,  cotton,  sugar-cane,  corn,  oats,  sweet 
potatoes  and  pea-nuts;  almost  all  of  the  Northern  fruits  and  vegetables 
do  well  here ;  two  crops  a  year  are  easily  produced ;  in  fact  one  can 
plow,  plant,  hoe,  and  harvest  every  month  in  the  year ;  there  is  no  rest 
for  the  farmer.  The  semi-tropical  fruits  and  flowers  are  almost  indig- 
enous. Oranges,  lemons,  figs,  bananas,  pomegranates  are  easily  pro- 
duced with  a  little  protection  against  an  occasional  frost.  Grapes  and 
small  fruits  are  cultivated  very  successfully.  Sheep  husbandry  might 
be  carried  on  with  great  profit ;  cows,  hogs,  and  sheep  sustain  them- 
selves in  vast  numbers  on  forest  grass  all  winter.  I  think  a  little  care 
and  feeding  would  add  to  the  profits.  Land  can  be  purchased  for  one 
dollar  an  acre,  and  upwards,  according  to  location  and  quality ;  the  tim- 
ber is  yellow  pine,  oak,  hickory,  poplar,  cypress,  bay,  beech,  maple,  mag- 
nolia, etc.,  etc.  Northern  people  are  treated  with  much  respect  and  cour- 
tesy and  welcomed  as  citizens ;  and  contrary  to  a  too  prevalent  Northern 
notion,  ladies  will  be  welcomed  into  good  society.  Georgia  ladies  are 
not  excelled  by  any  others  in  politeness,  a  kind  disposition  and  ability 
to  do  the  agreeable.  We  have  most  excellent  neighbors,  kind  and  social 
as  could  be  desired.  To  satisfy  yourself  on  these  points  come  here  and 
judge  for  yourself;  you  will  find  everything  new  to  you,  all  very  differ- 
ent trom  New  England  life.  I  like  Georgia,  her  government  and  her 
people,  and  only  regret  that  I  did  not  come  here  at  an  earlier  date. 

Truly  yours,  WM.  P.  HOMER. 

Cairo,  No.  20,  Thomas  county,  Georgia ;  214  miles  from  Sa- 
vannah ;  post  office. 

Whigham,  No.  21,  Decatur  county,  Georgia ;  221  miles  west 
of  Savannah  ;  is  very  pleasantly  situated  on  high,  rolling  land. 
The  healthfulness  is  unsurpassed,  being  almost  entirely  exempt 
from  the  malarial  diseases  which  infest  many  Southern  localities. 
The  water  in  this  section  is  unequaled,  both  for  abundance  and 
quality.  A  never-failing  spring,  equal  in  its  character  to  the  far- 
famed  water  of  the  hill  country,  is  near  the  depot,  discharging 
daily  ten  thousand  gallons  of  pure  cold  water.  The  town  is 
regularly  laid  out  and  incorporated,  containing  two  good  board- 
ing houses,  six  stores,  two  churches,  a  good  academy,  post  office 
and  express  office.  Two  miles  west  is  a  large  turpentine  distill- 
ery. The  land  around  this  place  is  well  adapted  to  agricultural 
purposes — both  pine  and  hammock — lies  well,  and  is  of  full 
average  grade  of  fertility.  It  surpasses  any  region  around  as  a 
fruit  growing  section.  Price  of  land  ranges  in  price  from  $1.00 


26  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

to  $8.00  per  acre.  Six  miles  north  is  a  remarkable  natural  curi- 
osity, known  as  the  "  Lime  Sink,"  where  a  creek  suddenly  falls 
over  a  perpendicular  precipice,  descending  into  the  bowels  of  the 
earth  about  100  feet.  It  then  disappears  mysteriously  under 
ground.  This  channel  has  been  explored  for  a  distance  of  200 
yards  from  the  point  of  its  wonderful  disappearance.  Further 
exploration  was  prevented  by  a  large  river.  About  two  miles 
from  the  "  Lime  Sink  "  is  another  remarkable  natural  curiosity, 
called  the  "  Blowing  Cave."  Through  an  opening  in  the  earth, 
nearly  twelve  inches  in  diameter,  a  strong  current  of  air  is  ever 
passing.  During  the  morning,  or  first  half  of  the  day,  the  air  es- 
capes from  the  opening,  but  throughout  the  afternoon,  or  latter 
part  of  the  day,  the  direction  of  the  current  is  reversed,  and  is 
drawn  into  the  opening  by  some  unseen  power  of  suction,  said 
to  be  sufficiently  strong  to  draw  into  the  cave  a  handkerchief  or 
any  other  light  body.  This  village  offers  to  the  immigrant  seek- 
ing a  desirable  location  many  inducements. 

Climax,  No.  22,  227  miles  from  Savannah,  in  Decatur  county, 
Georgia;  post  office. 

Bainbridge,  No.  23,  Decatur  county,  Georgia ;  the  present 
terminus  of  the  Atlantic  and  Gulf  Railroad ;  telegraph,  post  and 
express  offices;  county  seat;  population,  1,800.  Situated  on  the 
east  bank  of  the  Flint  river,  about  fifty  feet  above  the  stream, 
beautifully  shaded  with  oaks  ;  average  annual  temperature,  65, 
healthful,  and  climate  in  winter  particularly  favorable  to  the 
Northern  invalid.  This  place  does  a  thriving  business  with  the 
various  landings  on  Flint,  Chattahoochee,  and  Apalachicola 
rivers.  Steamboats,  making  semi -weekly  trips  on  these  rivers, 
bring  a  large  amount  of  cotton  to  Bainbridge,  for  shipment  to 
Savannah.  The  Weekly  Democrat  is  published  here.  Hotel, 
Sharon  House  ;  accommodations  for  75  ;  rates  $2.00  per  day, 
$8.00  per  week,  $25,00  per  month  ;  reduced  rates  to  families. 

Ocklocknee,  Thomas  county,  Georgia;  211  miles  from  Savan- 
nah ;  post  and  express  offices.  Within  2^/2,  miles  is  the  finest 
water-power  in  Southwest  Georgia,  amply  sufficient  for  a  cotton 
factory.  Within  five  miles  is  a  fine  mineral  spring;  it  is  large 
and  perfectly  transparent,  beautifully  situated,  and  with  a  small 
outlay  of  capital  could  be  made  a  popular  summer  resort ;  it  is 
situated  opposite  the  216  mile  post,  and  about  500  yards  from 
the  line  of  road.  The  health  of  this  place  cannot  be  surpassed. 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  27 

Pelhain,  Mitchell  county,  Georgia;  224  miles  from  Savannah. 
This  section  of  country  offers  superior  inducements  to  manufac- 
turers of  naval  stores.  Timber  plentiful  and  convenient  to  line 
of  railroad.  Only  one  man  engaged  in  the  business  here.  Plenty 
of  room  for  more.  Hands  are  easily  had  that  understand  work- 
ing the  trees,  such  such  as  cutting  boxes,  hacking,  etc. 

Camilla,  Mitchell  county,  Georgia ;  232  miles  from  Savannah  ; 
telegraph  office  ;  county  seat.  This  is  a  pleasant  little  village, 
well  located  in  a  fine  cotton  growing  country.  Population,  800. 

Baconton,  Mitchell  county,  Georgia ;  242  miles  from  Savan- 
nah ;  post  office. 

Hardaway,  Dougherty  county,  Georgia ;  250  miles  from  Sa- 
vannah ;  post  office. 

Albany,  Dougherty  county,  Georgia ;  258  miles  from  Savan- 
nah;  terminus  of  the  Albany  division  of  the  savannah,  Florida 
&  Western  Railway,  and  connected  with  Macon,  Ga.,  by  a 
branch  railroad  from  Smithville  to  Arlington,  106  miles  from 
Macon  ;  with  Brunswick  by  the  Brunswick  and  Albany  Railroad. 
Telegraph  office,  county  seat.  Population,  3,500.  From  the 
central  location  of  this  town,  it  bids  fair  to  become  a  prosperous 
city.  Surrounded  by  the  best  cotton  lands  of  the  State,  quite  a 
trade  is  done  in  this  staple.  From  25,000  to  30,000  bales  cotton 
are  shipped  from  this  point  annually.  There  are  several  foun- 
dries and  mills  here,  and  large  warehouses  for  the  storage  and 
sale  of  cotton.  Hotels  :  Albany  House  and  Bogen  House ; 
rates  per  day,  $2.00 ;  per  week,  $10.00  ;  per  month,  $3  .00.  Albany 
possesses  in  the  Flint  river  a  source  of  unlimited  water-power, 
which,  when  utilized  in  the  establishment  of  cotton  and  other 
factories,  must  prove  a  source  of  wealth  and  prosperity,  while  its 
transportation  facilities,  in  being  a  junction  point  of  three  rail- 
roads, makes  it  a  competitive  commercial  center,  from  which  it 
derives  considerable  advantages. 


28  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

Stations  and  Points  of  Interest  on  the  Macon  and  Bruns- 
wick Railroad. 


BRUNSWICK,  GA. 

An  incorporated  city — the  eastern  terminus  of  the  Macon  and 
Brunswick  and  Brunswick  and  Albany  Railroads — 189  miles  from 
Macon,  171  from  Albany,  and  97  by  rail  from  Savannah. 

It  is  situated  on  a  peninsula  running  north  and  south,  sur- 
rounded on  all  sides  but  the  north,  which  joins  the  main  land,  by 
salt  water.  To  the  south  and  west  lie  the  waters  of  Brunswick 
harbor,  a  magnificent  roadstead,  with  depth  and  capacity  to  safely 
accommodate  the  largest  fleets.  To  the  eastward  is  St.  Simon's 
Sound  and  the  entrance  from  the  Atlantic  ocean.  The  distance 
from  the  light-house  at  the  entrance  to  the  eastern  side  of  the  city 
is  only  seven  miles. 

The  bar  and  harbor  of  Brunswick  are  unsurpassed  by  any 
other  port  south  of  the  Chesapeake.  The  entrance  is  between  the 
two  islands,  St.  Simon's  and  Jekyle,  and  forms  a  wide,  deep  chan- 
nel, easy  of  approach  in  any  weather,  day  or  night;  having  no 
sharp  points,  eddies,  or  dangerous  currents,  and  presenting  not 
the  slightest  difficulty  of  navigation  even  without  the  assistance 
of  a  pilot — and  vessels  often  dispense  with  the  services  of  one. 
The  distance  across  the  bar  is  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile,  and  the 
channel  is  of  sufficient  width  for  a  vessel  to  beat  over  it  if  the 
wind  should  be  adverse. 

After  several  thorough  surveys  by  the  United  States  Grvern- 
ment  at  different  periods,  of  the  entire  coast,  an  admirable  site  for 
a  Navy  Yard  was  purchased  in  Brunswick  harbor.  The  average 
rise  of  the  tide  is  seven  feet,  which  gives  at  high  water  on  the  bar 
24  feet.  The  place  is  unusually  healthy,  and  vessels  visit  it  at  any 
season  with  impunity.  No  case  of  yellow  fever  is  known  to  have 
ever  originated  in  Brunswick,  and  the  absence  of  fresh  water 
streams  and  morasses  exempts  it  from  miasmatic  fevers  they  pro- 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  2 9 

duce  in  so  low  a  latitude.  The  temperature  is  very  equable;  the 
mercury  seldom  rises  to  94°  or  falls  below  30°,  the  mean  temper- 
ature being  67°  Fahrenheit.  The  sea-breeze  from  the  ocean 
tempers  the  heat  of  summer,  and  renders  the  atmosphere  more 
cool  and  pleasant  than  in  interior  towns  of  higher  latitudes.  In 
winter  the  weather  is  mild,  the  air  soft,  and  the  climate  considered 
by  visitors  as  unsurpassed. 

The  whole  peninsula  is  healthy,  has  beautiful  sites  for  residences, 
and  excellent  water.  It  is  high  and  dry,  and  the  entire  plateau 
covered  with  a  beautiful  and  luxuriant  growth  of  live-oak  and 
cedar.  The  walks  and  drives  along  the  salts  and  through  the 
woods  are  very  attractive.  On  the  eastern  side  of  the  city  and 
beyond  is  a  beautiful  drive  for  miles  near  the  water,  in  full  view 
of  St.  Simon's  and  Jekyle  islands,  the  light-house  on  the  former, 
and  between  these  islands  out  to  the  ocean. 

To  those  fond  of  yachting  and  hunting,  the  inducements  offered 
by  the  beautiful  rivers,  adjacent  sounds  and  ocean  and  numerous 
islands  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  are  unequaled.  The  greatest 
abundance  of  finest  varieties  of  fish,  oysters  and  other  shell-fish 
are  to  be  found  in  the  surrounding  waters. 

There  is  scarcely  any  difference  in  the  productions  of  this 
neighborhood  and  those  of  Florida.  The  soil  is  light,  easily 
worked  and  very  productive  of  fruits  and  vegetables,  and  one 
may  usually  have  strawberries  and  green  peas'  at  Christmas  in  a 
well-tended  garden.  The  olive  grows  readily,  and  with  sufficient 
attention  might  prove  of  great  value.  The  oil  it  yields  is  so 
superior  that  there  is  a  demand  for  it  at  $8.00  per  gallon.  Oats, 
peas,  corn,  cotton,  rice,  sweet  potatoes  and  sugar-cane  are  the 
main  farming  products  of  this  section.  There  is  no  reason  why 
the  orange  should  not  be  successfully  cultivated,  .as  was  the  case 
before  the  war;  and  there  still  exists  a  valuable  and  productive 
orange  grove  on  Butler's  Island,  some  fifteen  miles  to  the  north. 

Property  can  be  had  in  the  city  and  adjoining  country  at  very 
low  figures,  and  much  below  the  prices  in  Florida.  The  pirnci- 
pal  business  of  the  place  is  in  lumber  and  naval  stores,  and  has 
increased  rapidly  within  a  few  years. 

The  wharf  room  available  is  sufficient  for  any  city  in  the  Union, 
and  the  railroads  extend  to  the  wharves,  allowing  transfer  of 
freight  from  car  to  ship  at  minimum  cost. 

Brunswick  is  admirably  situated  for  a  great   cotton  mart,  by 


30  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

reason  of  its  shorter  lines  of  communication  with  the  cotton- 
growing  districts,  and  superior  advantages  as  a  port  of  shipment, 
but  the  place  as  yet  has  not  had  sufficient  capital  to  attract  busi- 
ness in  that  staple. 

By  the  two  railroads  terminating  at  Brunswick,  daily  commu- 
nication is  had  with  all  points  north  and  west  and  to  Florida.  A 
line  of  ocean  steamers  for  New  York  touch  at  the  port  weekly, 
and,  by  an  inland  passage  between  the  chain  of  beautiful  coast 
islands  and  main  land,  communication  is  had  by  steamboat  with 
Florida  or  Savannah. 

Great  advantages  are  offered  for  the  location  of  manufactories 
and  other  industries.  Among  them  are  the  fine  climate,  the 
cheapness  with  which  all  needful  supplies  can  be  furnished,  and 
the  accessibility  to  other  points,  including  the  extensive  coal  and 
mineral  beds  that  are  being  developed  in  Georgia  and  Alabama. 

Hardly  any  other  point  along  the  Atlantic,  from  Maine  to 
Florida,  affords  such  facilities  for  ship  building,  with  an  unlimited 
supply  of  the  finest  material  at  hand. 

The  place  is  regularly  and  tastefully  laid  out  with  alternate 
squares,  and  the  walks  and  streets  are  shaded  with  beautiful  live- 
oaks,  festooned  with  draperies  of  hanging  moss. 

The  whites  have  five  churches,  and  the  colored  people  fully  as 
many.  Some  of  the  edifices  are  well  built  and  attractive.  Hotel 
accommodations  are  limited,  there  being  but  two  small  ones;  but 
these  are  supplemented  by  several  private  boarding  houses,  which 
furnish  comfortable  and  pleasant  quarters. 

Population  about  3,500. 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  31 


EASTMAN,  DODGE  COUNTY,  GEORGIA. 

STATION  No.  13,  MACON  &  BRUNSWICK  R.  R. 

A  Sample  of  ^vhat  may   be  done  on  the  Pine  Lands 
of  South   Georgia. 


A  pretty  town  of  some  six  hundred  inhabitants,  and  growing 
more  rapidly  than  any  other  place  upon  the.  line  of  the  road.  In 
the  center  of  a  vast  tract  .of  lands,  one-half  of  which  has  been 
owned  by  Northern  capitalists  since  the  days  of  the  Indian  pos- 
session, fifty  years  ago,  and  held  by  them  for  investment.  Thus, 
for  half  a  century,  one  of  the  most  prominent  parts  of  the  State 
has  been  largely  closed  to  the  farmers  of  this  and  other  States, 
and  its  true  development  retarded  by  the  value  of  the  pine  tim- 
ber growing  on  these  lands. 

The  building  of  the  Macon  £  Brunswick  Railroad  for  fifty 
miles  through  this  most  attractive  region  has  opened  a  market 
for  the  pine  timber,  and  arrangements  have  been  made  to  rapidly 
clear  and  open  the  lands  to  intending  settlers.  Eastman  is  the 
county  town  of  Dodge  county,  and  has  a  promising  basis  for 
future  growth.  For  ten  miles  east  and  wrest  up  and  down  the 
railroad,  and  for  fifteen  miles  north  to  the  Oconee  river,  and 
fifteen  miles  south  to  the  Ocmulgee  river,  lies  a  region  of  beauti- 
fully undulating  or  rolling  prairie  land,  well  watered  with  springs 
and  small  clear  streams,  embracing  several  hundred  thousand 
acres,  all  of  which  is  commercially  tributary  to  this  rising  town. 
Within  the  next  ten  years  one-half  of  this  territory  should  be 
under  the  control  of  the  farmer,  and  furnish  traffic  enough  to 
support  a  town  of  several  thousand  inhabitants.  The  location 
of  the  town  from  a  sanitary  point  of  view  is  probably  unsur- 
passed by  any  town  in  the  Southern  States.  Situated  from  500 
to  600  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  on  ground  marked  by  in- 
equalities of  surface  sufficient  to  provide  ample  drainage  without 
being  either  hilly  or  level,  with  water  unusually  pure  and  good, 
and  a  climate  free  from  sudden  changes  of  moisture  and  temper- 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  32 

ature,  it  is  especially  adapted  for  those  who  are  suffering  irom 
bronchial  or  pulmonary  affections,  and  is  considered  one  of  the 
healthiest  places  for  residence  in  the  United  States. 

By  the  advice  of  distinguished  physicians  and  well-known 
hotel  proprietors,  a  company  of  gentlemen  have  here  located  one 
of  the  most  attractive  hotels  in  the  South,  with  accommodations 
for  over  100  guests,  and  an  addition  soon  to  be  made  to  accom- 
modate as  many  more. 

The  beautiful  grounds,  containing  about  10  acres,  are  divided 
by  the  railroad  from  the  city  park ;  on  which,  embowered  in 
trees,  stands  the  stately  court-house,  built  at  a  cost  of  some 
$20,000,  and  a  gift  to  the  county  from  the  Hon.  William  E. 
Dodge,  of  New  York  city.  These  grounds  united  form  a  fitting 
center  to  the  town.  Avenues  to  the.  number  of  eight  are  laid 
out  at  right  angles  from  the  railroad,  while  parallel  with  the  rail- 
road are  other  streets,  named  from  the  native  forest  trees. 

The  village  already  contains  a  dozen  or  more  stores,  a  wagon- 
factory,  turpentine-still,  two  considerable  saw-mills,  and  two  or 
three  well-kept  boarding-houses,  where  invalids  and  other  comers 
may  secure  cheaper  board  than  at  the  hotel. 

The  Eastman  High  School  building  is  prettily  situated  on  the 
fifth  avenue,  and  has  from  50  to  70  scholars.  Mr.  Harrison,  a 
teacher  of  some  note  in  the  State,  of  liberal  education  and  cul- 
ture, and  a  Christian  gentleman,  has  charge  of  the  school,  and  it 
is  all  one  could  desire  for  a  new  place.  The  Methodist,  Baptist, 
and  Presbyterian  denominations  have  regular  services,  and  a 
Union  Sunday  School,  with  over  100  on  its  rolls,  is  one  of  the 
principal  attractions  on  Sunday.  The  village  is  governed  by  a 
mayor  and  four  aldermen.  The  authorities  have  planted  trees 
along  some  of  the  principal  avenues,  and  efforts  are  made  to 
keep  the  streets  in  good  order.  The  land  for  a  mile  in  each  di- 
rection from  the  court-house  square  has  been  laid  out  under  the 
supervision  of  Mr.  Ayres,  of  Macon,  and  the  utmost  advantage 
has  been  taken  of  all  the  natural  beauties  of  the  landscape.  The 
main  roads  from  the  town  wind  around  the  elevations,  furnishing 
large  numbers  of  desirable  sites  for  villas  and  cottages.  Village 
lots,  or  plots  of  from  i  to  5  acres,  can  be  purchased  at  reasona- 
ble prices,  as  shown  upon  the  map  of  the  town. 

The  west  end  of  the  town  is  beautified  by  the  residences  of 
Judge  Bishop,  Wright  Harrel,  Esq.,  and  others,  and  by  the  ele- 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  33 

gant  residence  of  Hon.  William  Pitt  Eastman,  from  whom  the 
town  takes  its  name.  The  last,  situated  upon  a  rising  knoll,  in 
the  midst  of  60  acres  of  grounds,  with  ample  lawn,  flower  gar- 
dens, fruit  and  shade  trees,  and  with  extensive  outbuildings, 
would  be  considered  a  beautiful  home  anywhere  on  the  Hudson 
or  in  New  England. 

For  particulars  as  to  the  hotel,  etc.,  we  refer  to  article  below. 

The  country  about  Eastman  is  slightly  rolling,  with  plenty  of 
drainage.  The  soil  is  a  sandy  loam,  and  with  proper  cultivation 
and  treatment,  is  susceptible  of  great  fertility.  The  subsoil  is 
clay,  strongly  impregnated  with  lime.  Experiment  has  proved 
that  by  gradually  mixing  this  subsoil  with  the  top  soil,  the  crops 
are  greatly  benefited.  Mr.  Eastman  has  produced  a  bale  of  cot- 
ton or  62  bushels  of  corn  to  the  acre.  He  has  experimented 
with  sugar-cane,  and  had  a  crop  of  1,500  gallons  of  syrup. 
Fruits,  vegetables  and  flowers  are  raised  to  perfection.  Numer- 
ous farms  in  the  county  can  be  shown  intending  settlers,  which 
will  this  year  average  from  30  to  50  bushels  of  corn  per  acre,  and 
a  bale  of  cotton  to  the  acre ;  from  200  to  500  bushels  of  sweet 
potatoes  (the  delicious  yam  of  the  South,  far  mere  palatable  and 
nutritious  than  the  Irish  potato),  and  from  50  to  100  bushels  of 
the  Irish  potato  have  been  raised  to  the  acre.  Turnips  yield 
several  hundred  bushels  per  acre,  and  hundreds  of  gallons  of 
syrup  are  frequently  made  from  an  acre  of  sugar-cane.  Field- 
peas,  the  clover  of  the  South,  oats,  rye,  and  various  kinds  of  millet 
are  certain  and  most  prolific  crops. 

The  railroad  company  is  offering  unusual  facilities  and  encour- 
agement in  freights  for  the  production  of  early  vegetables  and 
melons,  and  market  gardeners  can  compete  successfully  with 
Florida  and  other  points  in  shipments  to  the  West. 

Strawberries,  raspberries  and  currants  grow  well,  and  in  the 
season  blackberries  and  whortleberries  are  daily  brought  to  the 
village  market  bv  the  children,  affording  an  abundant  supply. 

Grapes  grow  wild  in  great  abundance  throughout  this  region, 
and  the  prediction  is  often  made,  that  in  time,  this  sunny  land 
will  vie  with  the  best  portions  of  France  and  Italy,  in  grape-cul- 
ture. This  region  has.  long  been  known  as  favorable  for  stock- 
raising,  on  account  of  the  universal  profusion  of  native  grass 
throughout  the  pine  forest  lands.  In  the  spring  and  early  sum- 
mer, the  miles  of  English-park-like  land,  free  from  undergrowth, 


34  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

is  covered  with  a  young  and  tender  grass,  and  as  far  as  the  eye 
can  reach,  presents  a  beautiful  appearance,  and  affords  the  most 
desirable  pasturage  for  cattle  and  sheep. 

Hundreds  of  thousands  of  stock  are  now  owned  in  this  and 
the  adjoining  counties,  and  are  very  profitable  to  their  owners. 
With  proper  care,  there  is  room  for  ten  where  HOW  there  is  one, 
and  with  herds  and  flocks  carefully  shepherded  as  in  other  coun- 
tries, the  injury  from  dogs  and  other  enemies  would  be  greatly 
lessened.  Wool  is  probably  the  most  profitable  product  of  this 
section  ;  a  number  of  residents  are  owners  of  flocks  of  sheep  of 
several  hundred  each,  producing  from  2  to  4  pounds  of  wool  per 
head,  and  the  whole  cost  to  the  owners  is  the  trouble  of  driving 
them  up  annually,  shearing  them,  and  marking  the  lambs.  A 
little  care  and  attention  would  much  improve  the  breeds  of  both 
sheep  and  cattle.  Cattle  are  constantly  sold  at  fair  prices  for  Sa- 
vannah and  the  sea-board  markets.  Sheep-raising  will  return  a 
dividend  of  from  60  to  70  per  cent,  annually  on  the  outlay. 

No  effort  has  been  made  to  regularly  feed  and  fatten  hogs  for 
market,  though  thousands  upon  thousands  of  half-wild  pigs  live 
and  roam  the  woods  without  care,  and  furnish  meat  to  the  farm- 
ers. With  half  the  care  taken  in  Ohio,  Tennessee,  and  other 
States,  pork-packing  could  be  made  profitable ;  so  also  could  the 
business  of  raising  goats,  and  furnishing  Eastern  dealers  with  kid 
skins,  which  are  in  great  demand.  After  visiting  almost  all  parts 
of  the  West,  Canada,  Australia  and  South  America,  a  resident 
here  says  that  with  ordinary  industry,  no  part  of  the  world  pre- 
sents a  fairer  field  for  the  intending  emigrant. 

It  is  pre-eminently  the  country  for  men  of  moderate  means  to 
come  to.  For  eight  months  in  the  year,  the  climate  is  the  superb 
climate  of  the  South  of  France  and  Northern  Italy.  Hundreds 
of  days  are  like  the  best  days  of  October  and  early  June  in  the 
North,  when  with  the  balmy  breezes  and  clear  skies,  it  is  simply 
a  pleasure  to  live. 

Northern  people  talk  of  Eastern  and  Middle  Georgia  as  if  it 
was  under  the  equator,  but  even  the  four  hottest  months  of  sum- 
mer are  not  more  trying  to  the  Anglo-Saxon  than  the  same 
months  in  New  York  or  even  Canada.  As  fine  specimens  of 
men  physically  can  be  produced  from  this  region  as  from  any 
part  of  the  United  States.  Not  one-half  the  real  labor  is  here 
required  for  a  comfortable  support  as  in  the  North  and  Canada, 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  35 

where  people  struggle  all  summer  to  supply  food  and  warmth 
for  the  long  winters.  Here  their  time  and  thoughts  can  be  given 
to  gaining  a  surplus,  and  to  comfort  and  culture.  Many  South- 
ern persons  now  believe  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  peculiar  insti- 
tution of  the  South,  Middle  and  Western  Georgia,  Tennessee, 
Kentucky,  Northern  Alabama  and  Arkansas  would  have  been  to- 
day, the  richest,  happiest  and  most  populous  part  of  America. 
Most  native  persons  here  begin  to  realize  this,  and  after  years  of 
residence  in  the  South  since  the  war,  the  writer  of  this  article, 
who  is  a  Northern  man,  has  yet  to  hear  the  first  man  wish  this 
peculiar  institution  back.  Notwithstanding  the  wicked  howlings 
of  interested  politicians,  I  affirm  that  emigrants  from  all  parts  of 
the  world,  who  honestly  desire  to  take  part  in  the  development 
of  the  vast  future  wealth  of  this  section  of  our  common  country, 
will  be  welcomed  with  warm-hearted  Southern  courtesy  and  kind- 
ness. 

This  is  especially  true  in  the  case  of  the  new  colonies  in  Dodge 
county.  In  the  town  of  Eastman,  one-third  of  the  people  are 
from  the  North,  and  the  most  cordial  feeling  exists  between  them 
and  the  older  citizens. 

A  favorable  feature  in  the  culture  of  the  soil  in  this  county  is 
the  ease  with  which  it  can  be  plowed  and  worked.  Two  or  three 
acres  can  be  cultivated  with  as  little  manual  labor  as  one  acre  of 
stiff  clayey  or  heavy  bottom  lands,  and  thus  the  results  of  toil 
are  as  great  in  quantity  produced  as  on  the  .best  bottom  lands. 
The  contrast  with  lands  in  the  West  and  Texas,  where  corn  is 
worth  only  15  to  20  cents  per  bushel,  so  far  from  market  that 
transportation  consumes  the  life  of  the  farm  and  farmer,  is 
marked.  Here  corn  is  selling  freely  at  $i  per  bushel,  and  within 
loo  to  150  miles  to  the  Atlantic  coast,  this  locality  has  the  benefit 
of  the  best  market  and  prices. 

In  the  heart  of  Georgia,  one  of  the  old  thirteen  States,  Dodge, 
Telfair,  Montgomery,  Pulaski,  Laurens,  and  their  adjoining  coun- 
ties, offer  home  privileges  and  opportunities  that  few,  if  any,  of 
the  Western  States  can  give. 

Lands  can  now  be  bought  as  cheap  as  in  Texas  or  the  West, 
and  the  country  once  fairly  populated,  farms  now  bought  must 
ere  many  years  double  and  treble  in  value. 

There  are  in  this  vicinity,  along  the  line  of  the  railroad,  six 
other  towns. 


36  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

Lumber  City,  or  Station  No.  9,  Macon  and  Brunswick  Rail- 
road, is  the  site  of  a  considerable  timber  traffic,  near  the  junction 
of  the  three  rivers,  and  a  promising  place.  Numbers  of  fine  bot- 
tom-land farms  can  be  had  near  this  place.  The  mail  for  Jack- 
sonville, the  former  county  town  of  Telfair,  goes  from  here,  dis- 
tance eight  miles. 

Towns,  or  Station  No.  10,  M.  &  B.  R.  R.,  is  a  village  with  a 
saw-mill,  grist-mill,  turpentine  works,  and  several  stores.  Within 
one  and  a  half  miles  from  the  station  is  the  Clemens  Institute,  a 
seminary  under  the  auspices  of  the  Methodist  Church,  where 
over.  100  students  have  excellent  opportunities  for  obtaining  an 
education.  The  seminary  building  is  surrounded  by  twenty  or 
more  cottages  and  boarding-houses. 

McVille,  or  Station  No.  10^2,  is  one  of  the  best  business  centers 
in  the  region,  with  turpentine  works,  and  several  busy  stores  and 
shops.  It  is  pleasantly  situated,  and  likely  to  become  a  consid- 
erable place. 

McRae,  or  Station  No.  n,  is  the  county  seat  of  Telfair  county, 
the  most  populous  county  in  this  part  of  Georgia.  It  has  many 
excellent  farms,  and  is  largely  settled  by  good  old  Scotch  stock. 
McRae  has  an  excellent  farming  country  around  it,  now  just  being 
opened  by  the  axe  of  the  timber-cutters.  The  place  contains  two 
public  houses,  court-house,  shops  and  stores,  and  during  court- 
week  is  full  of  life. 

Chaimcey,  or  No.  12,  M.  &  B.  R.  R.,  is  named  after  the  late 
William  Chauncey,  Esq.,  of  New  York  city,  one  of  the  oldest  and 
best  merchants  of  that  city,  who  was  largely  interested  in  pine 
lands  near  the  town,  and  whose  family  will  be  interested  in  the 
growth  of  a  village  here.  There  are  now  four  or  five  stores  here, 
and  the  extensive  shingle-mill  of  Sumner  &  Mullen.  Enterprising 
turpentine  men  from  North  Carolina  have  secured  3,000  acres  of 
choice  lands,  and  are  erecting  extensive  works  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  naval  stores  at  Maunds,  No.  iif4,  M.  &  B.  R.  R. 

The  Georgia  Land  and  Lumber  Company,  of  New  York  city, 
Hon.  W.  E.  Dodge,  President,  for  whom  the  county  is  named, 
has  its  headquarters  at  Eastman.  This  company  controls  from 
300,000  to  400,000  acres  of  choice  lands,  and  is  preparing  rapidly 
to  get  its  lands  into  market.  Within  the  last  year  or  two  it  has 
commenced  extensive  lumbering  operations  on  its  lands,  and  is 
offering  excellent  opportunities  to  immigrants  who  are  used  to 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  37 

the  axe,  who  may  desire  contracts  for  hauling,  or  who  have  farm 
produce  to  sell.  It  has  invested  within  the  last  year  $80,000  in 
the  finest  saw-mill  on  the  coast,  at  St.  Simon's  Island,  the  timber 
supply  for  which  must  come  from  these  lands.  Settlers,  while 
preparing  homes  and  farms,  probably  can  obtain  work  at  fair 
wages  in  their  lumber  camps,  or  could  pay  for  their  farms  by  the 
delivery  of  timber  on  the  railroad. 

This  company  has  prepared  and  ready  for  sale  at  low  rates,  ten 
excellent  farms,  near  the  towns  and  railroad.  These  farms  have 
from  10  to  50  acres  under  cultivation,  are  neatly  fenced,  and  pro- 
vided with  an  excellent  farm-house  (of  several  rooms),  painted 
white,  with  green  blinds,  on  each  place.  Very  advantageous 
terms  will  be  made  to  the  right  kind  of  settlers,  to  induce  them 
to  come  among  us,  and  these  homes  will  prove  very  attractive  to 
them.  Uncleared  lands  can  be  had  at  from  $2.00  to  $5.00  per 
acre  near  the  railroad,  and  at  cheaper  rates  farther  back ;  5O-acre 
farms,  with  residences  as  above,  with  10  acres  cleared  and  fenced, 
can  be  purchased  at  from  $600  to  $800  each.  Payments  part 
cash,  and  the  balance  on  favorable  terms.  These  farms  should 
pay  for  themselves  in  a  few  years,  besides  affording  a  good  sub- 
sistence for  a  family.  Farms  can  be  bought  from  other  parties 
also.  Good  bottom  lands,  near  the  rivers  at  Lumber  City,  can 
be  had  for  about  $5.00  per  acre.  Every  effort  will  be  made  to 
give  intending  purchasers  satisfaction. 

For  many  reasons,  therefore,  no  part  of  the  South  is  more 
favorable  for  those  who  wish  to  escape  the  hardships  and  rigors 
of  less  hospitable  and  colder  climates. 


38  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Towns  and  Points  of  Interest  on   the   Line   of  the 
Brunswick  and  Albany  Railroad. 


Brunswick,  the  terminus  of  both  the  Macon  and  Brunswick 
and  Brunswick  and  Albany  roads,  having  already  been  described, 
in  chapter  four,  descriptive  of  points  of  interest  on  the  line  of  the 
Macon  and  Brunswick  Railroad,  it  is  only  necessary  to  add  that 
there  has  been  since  that  sketch  was  written,  in  1876,  very  great 
improvement  in  business.  The  lumber  and  naval  store  business 
has  more  than  doubled.  Seventy  new  business  and  dwelling 
houses  have  been  erected  since  January  ist,  1880,  and  a  number 
of  new  buildings  are  now  in  course  of  erection.  Chess,  Carley 
&  Co.,  the  largest  dealers  in  oils  and  naval  stores  in  the  South) 
have  established  a  branch  house  and  are  doing  a  heavy  business-, 
which  they  will  rapidly  increase.  This  firm,  with  A.  F.  Franklin 
&  Co.,  Forrester  &  Co.,  and  Duck  &  Co.,  are  doing  a  large  busi- 
ness in  wholesale  groceries,  hay,  grain  and  ship  supplies.  New 
merchants  are  coming  in,  and  the  lumber  and  naval  store  busi- 
ness for  this  year  will  beat  last  20  per  cent,  higher  than  a  table 
of  exports  elsewhere  given  (see  tabular  statement)  shows  for  1880. 
There  have  been  as  many  as  sixty-six  vessels  in  port  at  one  time 
this  year  loading  with  lumber  and  naval  stores.  The  Macon  and 
Brunswick  Railroad  Company  are  rapidly  completing  deep  water 
wharves,  and  the  Brunswick  and  Albany  Railroad  is  contemplat- 
ing improvements  of  like  character.  The  cotton  season  has 
opened  with  considerable  shipments.  Col.  Schlatter,  whose  re- 
lations to  the  Brunswick  and  Albany  Railroad  are  the  same  as 
Maj.  Haines'  relation  to  the  Savannah,  Florida  and  Western,  who 
has  watched  over  this  road  for  over  25  years  with  unswerving 
fidelity  to  its  interests,  and  to  the  interests  of  Brunswick,  and 
whose  careful  management  has  made  the  sale  to  the  Elanger- 
Seligman  Syndicates  a  fact,  and  insured  a  bright  future  for  Bruns- 
wick, with  his  assistant,  Mr.  Meador,  an  able  railroad  officer,  is 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  39 

sure  to  make   of  Brunswick  in  the   next  five   years  a  terminus 
worthy  of  the   great  through   route   to  the   Pacific   which    Mr. 
Wolffe's  genius  has  cemented  together  out  of  detached  portions 
of  the  road,  and  Brunswick  and  Savannah  the  Georgia  outlets  of 
four  great  systems  of  Western  railway  communication,  will  grow 
and  prosper  in  generous    rivalry,   each    having   enough    to  do. 
There  are  a  large  number  of  Northern  men  engaged  in  business 
in  Brunswick,  all  of  whom  are  doing  well.     St.  Simon's  mills,  on 
the  island  of  that  name,  eight  miles  from  Brunswick,  is  the  largest 
on  the  coast,  and  saws  as  high  as  a  half  million  feet  of  lumber 
per  week.     It  is  owned  by  Dodge,  Meigs  &  Co.,  of  New  York, 
and  managed  by  Warren  A.  Fuller,  a  Northern  man,  from  whom 
a  letter  written  years  ago  appears  in  this  book,  (see  chapter  8); 
Cook  Brothers  &  Co.,  a  firm  of  Northern  men,  also  operate  a 
mill  for  the  manufacture  of  lumber  in  Brunswick.     J.   Wilder, 
Esq.,  has  an  8,000  acre  turpentine  farm   near  Brunswick  and  is 
doing  a  heavy  business.     Jamaica,  12  miles  from  Brunswick,  is 
the  depot  from  which   Hon.  J.  W.  Tison,  our  late  Senator,  and 
his  neighbors  get  their  goods.     He  is  one  of  the  heaviest  cattle 
owners   and   most   successful  agriculturalists   in  the  State.     At 
Waynesville,  23  miles  from   Brunswick,  which  boasts  a  splendid 
Sulphur  spring,  and  is  a  delightful  summer  resort,  there  are  three 
turpentine  farms  owned  by  J.  H.  Allison,   Covington  &  Gleason 
and  B.  Barnes.     Some  distance  above  Mr.  Buck  has  an  extensive 
turpentine  farm.     Still   further   up   the   Brunswick   and   Albany 
road,  at  Nahunter,  Messrs.  Burbage  &  Leary  have  a  fine  turpen- 
tine farm,  and  at  Hoboken,  in  Pierce  county,  W.  E.  Burbage  has 
another  turpentine  farm.'    At  the  crossing  of  the  Satilla  river  in 
Wayne  county,  Prentice  &  Son,  from  Michigan,  have  a  fine  mill, 
procuring  their  logs  by  rafting   on   the  river,  and  by  purchase. 
Reppard  &  Walters  had  a  fine  mill  at  Dixonia,  in  a  body  of  tim- 
ber of  about  150,000  acres,  which  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  July 
last.     This  was  the  largest   mill  on  any  of  the  lines  of  road,  and 
was  ably  managed  by  probably  the  ablest  mill  manager  in  the  State, 
Nicholas  Dixon,  Esq.     The  company,  with  their  usual  energy  and 
promptness,  have  put  the  loss  behind  them  and  are  building  a 
still  larger  mill  near  Waycross,  the  rapid  completion  of  which  is 
insured  by  the  fact  that  Dixon  is  in  charge  of  the  work.     Upland 
rice  yields  largely  along  this    line  of  road,  as  it  does  indeed  all 
through  South  Georgia,  and  is  cultivated  for  profit.    Joseph  A. 


40  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

Baker  &  Co.,  are  largely  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  naval 
stores  at  Schlatterville,  50  miles  from  Brunswick,  and  W.  F. 
Bailey  has  a  fine  steam  saw  mill  and  is  doing  a  good  business. 
These  are  the  industries  outside  of  agriculture  between  Waycross 
and  Brunswick.  As  the  name  implies,  Waycross,  the  county 
seat  of  Ware  county,  is  the  point  where  the  Savannah,  Florida 
and  Western  and  Brunswick  and  Albany  roads  cross  each  other, 
and  although  laid  out  as  late  as  1872  has  a  population  of  about 
700  and  is  rapidly  growing.  Healthily  situated  and  easy  of 
access,  it  has  already  attracted  a  number  of  settlers  from  New 
Jersey.  More  are  coming,  and  it  is  destined  to  become  a  thriving 
town,  an  educational  center,  and  a  resort  for  invalids  and 
tourists. 

Waresboro,  on  the  line  of  the  Brunswick  and  Albany  Rail- 
road, was  formerly  the  county  seat  of  Ware  county,  is  the  center 
of  a  thriving  agricultural  settlement,  and  sells  many  goods.  J.  C. 
McDonald  &  Co.  have  a  fine  mill  at  Red  Bluff,  and  in  common 
with  all  other  mill  men  are  making  money.  Space  and  want  of 
dates  forbids  that  we  should  refer  to  all  the  locations  and  busi- 
ness enterprises,  from  Waresboro  to  Albany,  and  we  therefore 
next  notice  Rosendale,  which  is  108  miles  from  Brunswick,  Here 
Saturn  &  Bro.  have  a  turpentine  farm  of  30  crops,  including  the 
crops  of  neighbors.  They  employ  75  hands,  have  finely  tim- 
bered lands,  6,000  to  7,000  acres  tapped,  the  yield  good.  The 
Alapaha  river  is  crossed  at  the  109,  crops  are  green  and  growing, 
and  a  general  air.  of  promise  and  prosperity  pervades  the  place. 


BERRIEN  COUNTY. 

Alapaha,  112  miles  from  Brunswick,  is  a  lively  and  business- 
like little  village.  It  has  six  stores  with  mixed  stocks,  and  three 
bar-rooms ;  the  aggregate  sales  reach  about  $100,000  per  annum  ; 
they  have  two  physicians,  two  lawyers  and  one  dentist.  The 
population  is  three  hundred.  It  has  also  a  sprightly  weekly 
newspaper,  the  Berrien  County  News,  W.  H.  Lastinger  editor 
and  proprietor,  who  "hews  to  the  line"  and  is  clearing  the  way 
for  settling  and  building  up  one  of  the  finest  sections  of  die  State. 
He  is  putting  in  some  good  strokes  for  the  development  of  the 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  41 

country.  There  is  considerable  trade  here,  some  heavy  stocks, 
and  the  people  enjoy  the  advantages  of  post,  exp  ess  and  tele- 
graph offices.  Berrien  is  regarded  the  best  agricultural  county 
on  the  line  of  this  road.  The  lands  are  rolling,  free  from  saw 
palmetto,  easily  cleared  and  cultivated,  and  highly  productive. 
Sheep  raising  is  successful  and  profitable  here,  and  the  pasturage 
being  rich  and  ample  but  little  labor  and  expense  is  involved 
beyond  watching  the  sheep.  The  winters  are  so  mild  that  shelter 
is  scarcely  needed.  Wool  is  always  in  demand,  at  remunerative 
prices,  and  to  many  of  the  land  owners  along  this  route  is  a  rich 
source  of  revenue.  The  culture  of  high  land  rice  is  attracting 
considerable  interest  here ;  it  is  a  paying  crop,  and  the  planters 
are  increasing  the  average  of  rice  each  year.  Bee  culture  is  also 
profitably  carried  on ;  the  honey  is  as  rich  and  pure  as  that  from 
California.  The  writer  has  paid  here  in  city  drug  stores  in  South- 
ern Georgia  as  much  for  four  ounces  of  honey  from  Los  Angelos 
as  was  charged  at  that  time  for  a  gallon  of  honey  made  here  in 
our  own  fields  and  forests — ours  being  equally  as  good  for  table 
and  medicinal  purposes. 

This  is  a  land  of  promise,  a  place  of  refuge  for  all  strangers 
with  pulmonary  affections.  Consumption  among  the  natives  is 
almost  unknown.  But  here  the  wearied  invalid  from  Northern 
lands  finds  the  odorous  pine  forests  freighted  with  healing  balm 
in  every  breath,  with  broad  acres  of  peach  orchards  producing 
the  brandy  which  mixed  with  honey  is  known  to  be  a  cure  for 
diseased  lungs.  Given  the  mild  climate,  the  dry  atmosphere,  the 
bright  sunshine,  the  gentle  breezes,  the  pure  water,  the  resinous 
odors,  peach  and  honey,  fat  beef  and  mutton,  and  the  chances  are 
largely  in  favor  of  the  cure  of  pulmonary  affections.  In  sight  of 
the  railroad  there  is  but  little  cotton  growing ;  other  products  are 
found  as  profitable  and  less  laborious.  Agriculture  and  horticul- 
.ture  are  progressive.  We  heard,  in  passing  through  Ware 
county,  of  an  orange  tree  at  Mr.  Styles  Murray's  home  which 
bore  seven  hundred  oranges  last  year.  It  is  not  an  old  tree,  but 
our  informer  could  not  be  exact  as  to  its  age.  Orange  groves 
would  be  valuable  here.  The  tree  flourishes  and  produces  abund- 
antly the  whole  length  of  the  road,  and  even  at  this  end,  in 
Albany,  is  rarely  injured  by  frost.  The  labor  and  expense  of 
sheltering  them  is  but  trifling,  compared  with  the  monied  value 
of  the  trees.  The  scuppernong  grape  vine  flourishes  in  all 


42  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

his  country.  The  yield  of  grapes  is  large  and  unfailing.  The 
writer  has  been  familiar  with  grape  culture  from  childhood,  and 
from  North  Carolina  to  Florida  has  never  seen  a  diseased  scup- 
pernong  vine.  The  wine  of  this  grape  is  the  most  delicious  of 
all  domestic  wines,  and  has  fine  medicinal  properties. 

Fruit  in  great  variety  grows  in  perfection  in  Berrien  county. 
Peaches,  apples,  pears,  quinces,  grapes,  oranges,  figs,  cherries 
and  various  kinds  of  berries  grow  side  by  side,  while  the  melons 
are  exceptionally  fine. 

The  finest  water-power  in  this  region  of  country  is  in  Berrien 
county,  one  mile  from  the  beautiful  little  village  Df  Milltown,  about 
twenty  miles  from  the  line  of  the  Brunswick  and  Albany  railroad 
and  fourteen  miles  from  the  Savannah,  Florida  and  Western  rail- 
road. Milltown,  by  the  way,  is  a  most  desirable  place.  It  is 
situated  on  a  high,  dry,  sandy  knoll,  shaded  with  oaks;  has  pure 
freestone  water,  good  society,  churches  and  schools. 

At  the  115  mile  post  F.  F.  Woodburn  has  a  turpentine  farm. 
This  is  the  first  year  of  working  it.  They  have  twenty  crops,  and 
6,000  acres  of  virgin  forest,  except  what  is  tapped  for  turpentine. 
Their  postoffice  is  Enigma,  at  the  117  mile-post,  where  J.  W. 
Ball  &  Co.  have  a  turpentine  farm  in  its  second  year.  They  have 
thirty  crops  and  5,000  acres  of  finely  timbered  lands. 

At  Brookfield,  122,  Mr.  Wood  has  a  turpentine  farm  of  thirty 
crops.  Here  are  four  stores,  a  postofBce,  and  a  small  village. 
These  lands  are  rolling  and  elevated ;  the  timber  well  cut  away, 
the  farms  productive.  Rice  is  successfully  grown  here;  sheep 
husbandry  is  remunerative,  and  bees  a  source  of  large  profit- 
Corn,  potatoes,  and  small  grains  thrive,  and  the  people  can  live, 
and  live  well,  at  home.  It  has  been  said  of  Berrien  county  that 
if  a  Chinese  wall  surrounded  it  the  people  would  be  comfortably 
independent  of  the  outside  world. 

Vaiiceville,  at  the  125  mile-post,  is  a  new  and  bright  looking 
little  settlement.  Here  Furlong  Bros,  have  a  sawmill  which  cuts 
15,000  feet  of  lumber  per  day.  They  have  a  tramway  started, 
the  engine  and  iron  on  the  ground.  The  country  is  rolling  and 
beautiful.  There  are  many  lovely  building  sites  on  this  road- 
Nature  has  made  them  beautiful,  and  in  a  few  short  years  our 
eyes  may  be  permitted  to  see  beautiful  gardens,  vineyards  and 
orchards,  where  now  the  wiregrass  flourishes.  Lawrence  &  Guest 
have  here  a  turpentine  farm.  Vanceville  is  their  postoffice. 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  43 

They  run  twenty  crops.  Mayo  &  Sons  have  also  a  turpentine 
farm  of  twenty  crops. 

Tifton.  H.  H.  Tift  is  at  the  head  of  this  large  establishment. 
Seventy-five  hands  are  employed  and  the  mill  cuts  18,000  feet 
per  day,  or  about  eighty  logs.  They  run  seven  four-mule 
teams.  This  mill  has  already  used  the  mill  timber  from  15,000 
acres  and  the  firm  has  75,000  yet  to  cut.  They  have  a  steam 
tramway  five  miles  long,  and  a  store  the  sales  of  which  amount 
to  about  $20,000  annually.  They  have  also  a  stave  mill  and  a 
planing  mill. 

Brown's  Mill,  at  133  mile-post,  is  owned  by  W.  J.  Brown.  It 
cuts  10,000  feet  per  day.  He  has  also  a  store.  Here  B.  C. 
Hutchins  has  a  turpentine  farm  of  fourteen  crops.  It  is  entirely 
new,  this  being  the  first  year. 

Then  comes  Ty-Ty  swamp  and  Little  River,  the  head-waters 
of  the  Suwannee  river,  which  form  the  line  between  Berrien  and 
Worth  counties. 

Hillsdale,  at  the  137  mile-post,  is  the  first  turpentine  farm  on 
the  road  in  Worth  county.  Here  E.  Haley  has  twenty  crops. 
At  Hillsdale  Mr.  T.  S.  Graves  has  a  large  establishment.  The 
mill  cuts  20,000  feet  of  lumber  per  day.  Other  data  could  not 
be  obtained  at  this  point.  Mr.  Graves  is  a  gentleman  of  businesss 
habits  and  fine  intelligence  and  will  no  doubt  furnish  any  infor- 
mation that  may  be  desired. 

Ty-Ty,  at  139,  has  a  postoffice  and  express  office,  six  stores 
with  general  stocks,  and  two  turpentine  distilleries.  Coleman  & 
Bishop  have  a  turpentine  farm  which  runs  twenty-two  crops, 
employs  thirty-eight  hands,  and  has  3,000  acres  of  finely  timbered 
land.  W.  E.  Williams  also  has  a  turpentine  farm  of  eighteen 
crops. 

Here  they  have  a  pleasant  little  village  of  two  or  three  dozen 
families.  They  have  a  good  school  and  have  the  building  mate- 
rial for  a  Methodist  church.  The  crops  look  well  and  promising. 

At  Cyms,  142,  are  the  Magnolia  Mills,  owned  by  Messrs.  Moss 
&  Graves.  The  capacity  is  20,000  feet  of  lumber  per  day.  This 
is  a  fine  rolling  country,  good  lands,  susceptible  of  a  high  degree 
of  cultivation.  Corn,  rice,  sugar  cane,  small  grain,  potatoes,  and 
every  desirable  crop  that  can  be  raised  in  this  latitude  does  well 
here ;  and  here  let  me  remark  that,  though  late  in  mentioning  it, 
sugar  cane  is  a  valuable  and  profitable  crop  all  along  this  line  of 


44  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

road.  The  farmers  make  syrup  and  sugar  in  abundance,  and  of 
excellent  quality,  and  it  can  generally  be  bought  at  reasonable 
prices.  The  syrup  these  South  Georgians  sejl  at  30  or  40  cents 
per  gallon  is  far  superior  to  the  beautiful  chemical  syrups  we  call 
golden  and  silver  drip,  and  for  which  we  pay  80  and  90  cents  a 
gallon.  It  is  clean,  free,  and  wholesome,  and  to  our  taste  far 
preferable  to  these  adulterated  foreign  mixtures. 

Sumner,  is  at  the  145  mile-post.  Here  C.  A.  Alford  has  a 
turpentine  farm  of  thirty  crops,  a  steam  planing  and  grist  mill, 
and  a  store.  A.  J.  Alford  also  has  a  store  here.  It  is  a  nice 
little  village  containing  in  all  four  stores.  We  wished  to  obtain 
further  information  in  regard  to  water  mill  and  sheep  farm,  and 
we  heard  something  of  a  wool  factory  in  Colquitt  on  the  Ocloco- 
nee,  but  could  not  learn  anything  definite. 

Weston  &  Co.  have  a  huge  mill  at  146. 

At  Poulavia,  149,  they  have  a  store,  two  turpentine  farms  and 
distilleries.  McFall  &  Co.  run  thirty-five  crops.  They  are 
enterprising  men  and  do  a  large  business. 

Isabella  has  a  good  depot  and  side  track,  a  postoffice  and 
express  office. 

At  152  Mr.  Williamson  has  a  fine  turpentine  farm. 

Albany  has  already  been  described  in  an  account  of  Points  of 
Interest  on  the  line  of  the  Savannah,  Florida  and  Western  road, 
(see  chapter  3)  but  the  large  business  it  now  does,  as  detailed 
there,  will  be  largely  increased  when  the  Brunswick  and  Albany 
road  completes  its  branch  to  Columbus  and  its  extension  to 
Selma.  There  is  no  finer  agricultural  region  in  Georgia  than  in 
and  around  Albany,  and  in  the  next  ten  years  there  is  every 
reason  to  hope  it  will  double  or  treble  its  population  and  wealth. 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  45 


CHAPTER   VI. 

A    Description   of  Pierce    County,     Written    for    the 
Waycross  Reporter. 


We  embody  this  sketch  entire  because  Wayne  county  is  natu- 
rally a  fair  sample  of  the  pine  woods  country  along  our  lines  of 
road.  The  timber  has  been  cut  closer  than  in  most  counties,  and 
the  people  have  turned  their  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits, 
with  results  that  may  be  attained  in  any  county  on  the  three  lines 
of  road,  and  has  been  attained  in  some  which  we  have  no  space  to 
describe.  There  are  sketches  of  other  counties  which  will  be 
published  in  the  Reporter  and  distributed  during  the  Exposition. 

PIERCE  COUNTY  PHOTOGRAPHED. 

A    BANNER    COUNTY — SELF-SUSTAINING    AND  PROSPEROUS— ALL 
INTERESTS    AND    INDUSTRIES    CONSIDERED. 

Pierce  is  a  neat  little  political  division  carved  out  of  the  old 
counties  of  Appling,  Wayne  and  Ware,  and  is  claimed  by  its  en- 
terprising inhabitants  to  be  the  "  banner  county"  of  that  portion 
of  the  wiregrass  domain  designated  as  Southern  Georgia,  and  in 
some  essential  respects  they  maintain  their  boast  with  gratifying 
proofs. 

The  county  is  most  favorably  situated,  and  has  important  nat- 
ural advantages  as  well  as  abundant  railroad  facilities.  It  is 
nearly  centrally  traversed  by  the  Savannah,  Florida  and  Western 
Railway,  while  the  southwest  corner  is  traversed  by  the  Way- 
cross  and  Jacksonville  Railroad,  and  its  southern  portion  by  the 
Brunswick  and  Albany  Railroad.  The  Satilla  river  skirts  its 
western  border,  dividing  it  from  Ware  county  for  about  twenty 
miles,  and  then  bends  to  the  eastward  towards  the  center  of  the 
county,  forming  a  junction  with  the  ALapaha  river,  near  the  south- 
ern boundary.  This  stream  runs  through  a  heavily  timbered  belt 
and  is  navigable  for  rafting.  The  Alapaha  is  a  small  river,  and 
only  open  for  rafting  for  a  few  miles.  There  are  quite  a  number 
of  creeks  and  some  valuable  water  power  in  the  county.  These 


46  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

creeks  and  rivers  furnish  a  never-failing  water  supply  for  stock, 
while  pure,  sweet  water  for  all  other  wants  is  found  everywhere  at 
a  depth  of  from  ten  to  twenty  feet.  The  soils  are  light,  sandy  and 
poor  in  the  northwestern  portion  bordering  the  Satilla ;  loose, 
dark,  flat  and  generously  productive  east  of  the  Alapaha,  and  a 
reddish  clayey  soil,  mixed  with  dark  reddish  gravel  in  the  gently 
rolling  pine  fields  of  the  center,  extending  north  and  south  nearly 
the  entire  length  of  the  county.  This  portion  of  the  county  is 
remarkably  productive,  and  is  admirably  adapted  to  horticulture, 
as  well  as  to  the  production  of  corn,  oats,  rice,  sugar  cane,  pota- 
toes, and  black  seed  or  long  staple  cotton.  Here,  too,  the  peach, 
the  pear,  the  apple,  plum,  cherry,  pecan,  quince,  fig,  mulberry, 
sand  pear,  scuppernong,  and  all  the  varieties  of  grapes,  grow 
most  luxuriantly  and  to  great  perfection.  The  other  portions  of 
the  county  are  scarcely  less  remunerative  in  these  products,  when 
the  proper  care  and  labor  are  bestowed. 

At  the  eighty-seven  mile  post  on  the  Savannah,  Florida  and 
Western  Railroad,  on  an  elevated  plane,  stretching  across  this 
gravel  formation,  is  situated  the  beautiful  and  flourishing  little 
village  of 

BLACKSHEAR, 

the  county  site  and  the  pride  of  every  man,  woman  and  child  in 
the  county.  It  contains  a  population  of  about  eight  hundred, 
mostly  whites,  and  is  one  of  the  most  prosperous  villages  on  the 
line  of  this  great  iron  highway.  Its  merchants  are  men  of  enter- 
prise, and  stand  high  in  commercial  circles.  They  have  a  good 
country  trade  and  are  enjoying  the  fruits  of  legitimate  traffic  and 
honest  industry.  The  twelve  business  houses  of  the  place  aggre- 
gate annual  sales  of  a  minimum  of  $200,000,  and  their  loss,  by 
non-paying  customers,  was  last  year  less  than  two  per  cent. 

Mr.  B.  D.  Brantley,  who  has  accumulated  a  handsome  fortune 
since  the  war,  is  probably  the  largest  dealer.  He  sells  about  forty 
thousand.  J.  W.  Strickland  also  commenced  poor,  and  now  has 
a  comfortable  competency — selling  about  thirty  thousand  annu- 
ally. Mr.  A.  N.  Smith  commenced  some  years  later,  and  now 
sells  twenty  thousand.  He  also  commenced  at  the  bottom,  and 
is  now  independent  and  nearly  happy.  Dr.  H.  J.  Smith,  a  Mexi- 
can veteran,  and  a  comrade  of  the  writer,  takes  the  world  easy, 
and,  though  the  possessor  of  a  fine  estate,  is  content  with  selling 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  47 

twelve  to  fifteen  thousand  a  year.  His  son,  Dr.  C.  H.  Smith,  does 
a  business  of  eight  to  ten  thousand,  and  has  beside  a  lucrative 
practice.  Messrs.  Jas.  A.  Harper,  R.  C.  Cannon,  S.  S.  Carter, 
M.  M.  Cohen,  R.  W.  Carpenter,  E.  J.  Acosta,  and  a  few  others 
complete  the  list,  and  are  all  men  of  energy  and  business  integrity, 

THE  BROWN  HOUSE 

is  a  handsome,  well  kept  hotel,  capable  of  accommodating  fifty 
guests.  It  is  presided  over  by  Mrs.  Allen  Brown,  the  estimable 
wife  of  Dr.  Allen  Brown,  a  dentist  of  high  reputation. 

CHURCHES  AND  SCHOOLS. 

There  are  six  churches  in  Blackshear,  three  white  and  three 
colored.  The  whites  have  a  Baptist,  a  Methodist,  and  a  Presby- 
terian church  ;  the  colored  people  one  Baptist  and  two  Methodist 
churches. 

The  white  people  have  an  academy  and  two  private  schools 
neither  of  which  was  reported  as  being  well  attended.  When 
will  the  parents  of  this  once  benighted  and  still  bedarkened  region 
wake  up  to  the  importance  and  the  duty  of  educating  their  chil- 
dren ?  The  colored  school  was  reported  as  being  admirably  con- 
ducted and  largely  attended. 

One  newspaper,  the  News>  a  small  weekly,  conducted  by  Mr. 
Bird.  A  good  medium  for  advertising  in  the  county,  but  is  mod- 
est in  its  pretension  and  circumscribed  in  its  enterprise. 

There  are  two  Masonic  lodges  in  the  village,  one  of  which  has 
colored  memberships  only. 

INDUSTRIES. 

Mr.  E.  B.  Coates  has  a  wood  and  blacksmith  shop,  where  he 
manufactures  wagons  and  buggies  and  does  town  work  generally. 
This  and  a  small  steam  grist  mill  and  turpentine  distillery  com- 
prise the  mechanical  and  manufacturing  industries. 

The  court  house  is  a  wooden  building,  very  neat  and  suffi- 
ciently commodious  for  the  business  of  the  county. 

There  is  no  Jail  in  the  county.  To  an  inquiry,  Enoch  Hendry 
replied :  "We  never  have  any  prisoners  ;  when  we  closed  the 
liquor  shops  we  burnt  the  jail."  "What  ?  You  have  no  liquor 
shops  in  Pierce  county  ?"  "Not  one ;  we  put  the  license  up  to 


48  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

$1,500,  and  the  boys  sold  out  and  quit.     Since  then  crime  has 
nearly  disappeared,  and  we  have  no  use  for  a  jail." 

MATERIAL  STATISTICS. 

Population:  1868,  1,973;  1870,  2,778;  1880,  4,500.  Polls:  1868, 
450;  1880,  819.  Taxable  valuables:  1860,  $160,000;  1868,  $260,- 
400;  1880,  $544,283.  The  county  tax  last  year  was  100  per  cent, 
on  the  State  tax,  making  seven-tenths  of  one  per  cent,  in  all. 
Being  now  out  of  debt  and  having  a  surplus  of  $733  in  the  Treas- 
ury, there  will  be  no  occasion  this  year  to  levy  a  greater  tax  than 
six-tenths  of  the  State  tax.  The  insolvent  list  for  1880  shows  but 
$3.60. 

It  is  upon  this  rapid  increase  of  population  and  wealth  and 
the  general  prosperity  of  the  people  that  the  claim  of  "banner 
county"  is  based,  and  it  is  hardly  probable  that  a  larger  percent- 
age of  increase  will  be  found  in  the  statistics  of  any  other  county 
in  the  wiregrass  country. 

There  is  still  some  game  in  the  county,  and  hunters  seldom 
fail  to  get  venison.  The  watercourses  abound  in  fish  of  many 
varieties,  and  it  is  not  doubted  that  the  German  carp  would  flour- 
ish in  the  same  waters. 

There  are  only  eleven  professional  men  in  Pierce,  which  proves 
that  litigation  and  sickness  give  the  people  but  little  concern. 

The  climate  is  salubrious,  and  the  temperature  equable  all  the 
year  round.  Out-door  labor  may  be  carried  on  every  day  in  the 
year,  it  being  neither  too  cold  in  winter  nor  too  hot  in  summer 
The  atmosphere  is  dry,  highly  rarified,  and  lung  diseases  are  un- 
known among  the  natives. 

TURPENTINE  FARMS. 

This  has  grown  to  be  a  vast  interest  in  Georgia,  and  the  turpen- 
tine farmers  of  the  Carolinas  are  still  seeking  eligible  fields  for  op- 
erations in  our  pine  forests.  They  already  cover  large  areas,  and 
the  industry  is  not  likely  to  slacken  till  the  pine  is  exhausted.  A 
crop  is  10,000  boxes,  The  trees  average  two  boxes.  Tapping  is 
the  cutting  of  the  tree  at  the  base.  The  lands  will  average  two 
and  one-half  to  three  crops  to  the  lot  of  490  acres,  or  about  thirty 
trees  to  the  acre. 

Mr.  B.  D.  Brantley,  Blackshear,  has  a  distillery. 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  .      49 

J.  W.  Strickland,  five  miles  east  of  Blackshear,  on  the  Savannah, 
Florida  and  Western  Railway,  owns  4,500  acres,  runs  eighteen 
crops  (180,000  boxes)  with  thirty-five  hands. 

John  W.  Carter,  four  miles  east  of  Patterson,  on  the  same  road. 

A.  J.  Lee  &  Bro.,  also  east  of  Blackshear. 

Wash  Watson,  colored,  two  miles  west  of  Blackshear,  on  same 
road,  taps  2,500  acres  and  runs  ten  crops. 

Joseph  A.  Baker  &  Co.,  at  Schlatterville,  on  the  Brunswick  and 
Albany  Railroad,  have  exhausted  14,000  acres,  and  now  run  ten 
crops  on  about  2,000  acres,  with  twenty  hands. 

MILLING  INTEREST. 

Mr.  J.  Y.  Colcord  has  a  magnificent  mill  on  the  banks  of  the 
Satilla  at  the  railroad  bridge,  and  also  a  stave,  lath  and  shingle 
mill.  At  this  point  there  is  a  bold  sand  bluff,  and  high  ridges 
slope  back  to  level  lands.  The  atmosphere  here  is  dry,  and  the 
locality  is  one  of  the  healthiest  on  the  continent.  It  is  called 
Exeter,  and  a  lively  little  village  is  springing  up  around  the  mills. 
Mr.  Colcord,  though  a  Northern  man  by  birth,  has  been  in  Geor- 
gia for  twenty  years,  and  is  one  of  our  most  enterprising  and  suc- 
cessful mill  men.  This  mill  has  a  capacity  of  30,000  per  day. 
Twenty-five  hands  are  employed  in  running  it.  The  timber  cut 
is  drifted  down  the  Satilla  from  the  rich  pine  forests  above.  Mr. 
Colcord  is  his  own  manager. 

The  stave,  lath  and  shingle  mill  is  leased  to  Mr.  C.  C.  Buchanan, 
who  manages  the  same,  and  produces  5,000  staves,  5,000  laths, 
and  5,000  shingles  per  day. 

Mr.  Colcord's  success  in  this  business  has  emboldened  him  to 
additional  enterprises,  and  he  is  now  establishing  a  mill  on  the 
Macon  and  Brunswick  Railroad  near  Eastman. 

This  mill  cuts  an  average  of  about  one  hundred  trees  per  day, 
which  culls  the  timber  from  four  acres.  There  is  a  post  office,  a 
store,  and  a  number  of  cottages  at  Exeter. 

AGRICULTURE. 

The  agricultural  interests  are  in  a  most  flourishing  and  prosper- 
ous condition.  The  tillers  of  the  soil  have  determined  to  improve 
their  methods,  and  many  of  them  have  adopted  the  modern  ap- 
pliances for  cultivating  and  the  most  approved  modes  of  fertiliz- 


50     .  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

ing.  From  Mr.  Joseph  A.  Harper,  who  took  the  census,  who 
knows  every  man  in  the  county,  and  who  is  perfectly  reliable,  the 
statement  was  received  that  industry  prevails  everywhere,  that 
improvement  is  perceptible  on  every  farm,  that  the  young  men 
are  taking  the  lead,  and  that  all  are  thoroughly  self-sustaining. 

Nor  are  they  confining  their  attention  to  the  production  of  field 
crops.  They  are  studying  and  engaging  in  horticulture  and  fruit 
growing  to  a  most  gratifying  extent.  In  these  branches  of  indus- 
try many  of  them  are  succeeding  admirably.  In  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Blackshear  truck  farming  is  absorbing  the  attention  of 
planters,  and  a  few  places  were  visited  that  afforded  the  amplest 
evidence  of  the  capabilities  of  the  soil  and  its  adaption  to  the 
growth  of  vegetables  and  fruits  of  all  kinds. 

This  is  the  home  of  Hon.  John  C.  Nicholls,  ex-Congressman 
from  this  district,  and  a  superb  home  he  has.  Indeed,  it  is  diffi- 
cult to  conjecture  why  a  gentleman  should  desire  to  leave  and 
neglect  such  a  beautiful  home  and  such  a  princely  estate  for  a 
seat  in  the  American  Congress.  His  fields,  and  lands,  and  gar- 
dens, and  orchards  are  artistically  planned  and  in  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  He  is  a  lover  of  fine  stock,  and  has  in  his  stables  sev- 
eral beautiful  colts.  He  makes  his  own  fertilizers,  and  produces 
an  average  of  about  35  bushels  of  corn  per  acre,  and  oats,  potatoes 
and  everything  else  in  proportion.  He  has  vineyards  and  young 
orchards,  and  has  not  neglected  the  LeConte  pear.  Mr.  B.  D. 
Brantley  has  a  magnificent  estate  adjoining  Col.  Nicholls,  and 
having  remained  at  home  while  the  Colonel  was  away  at  Wash- 
ington, is  somewhat  ahead  of  him  in  his  horticulture  and  fruit 
growing  experiments.  He,  too,  makes  his  own  fertilizers,  and 
seldom  fails  to  make  forty  bushels  of  corn  to  the  acre,  and  mil- 
lions of  melons.  He  has  fine  orchards  and  many  varieties,  includ- 
ing the  LeConte  pear. 

Adjoining  Mr.  Brantley,  Mr.  J.  M.  Shaw,  formerly  a  mill  man 
on  the  Brunswick  and  Albany  Railroad,  has  a  scientific  truck 
farm.  He  plants,  fertilizes  and  cultivates  by  the  card,  making  his 
own  fertilizers,  and  a  more  beautiful  garden  farm  is  not  often  seen. 
He  has  four  acres  in  Irish  potatoes,  two  or  three  in  watermelons, 
as  many  more  in  small  vegetables,  and  a  large  area  in  fruit  trees, 
the  LeConte  pear  having  the  preference. 

Mr.  Shaw  commenced  this  farm  last  fall,  and  it  now  looks  as  if 
it  might  have  been  under  the  care  of  a  skilled  gardener  for  a  de» 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  51 

cade.  It  would  be  difficult  to  estimate  the  value  to  a  community 
of  farmers  of  one  such  enterprise  as  this,  and  the  time  will  come, 
and  early,  too,  when  Mr.  Shaw  will  be  revered  for  his  example 
and  honored  for  the  great  lesson  he  is  teaching. 

Mr.  Downs,  near  by,  has  a  model  truck  farm,  but  on  a  smaller 
scale.  He  was  born  in  the  Bahamas,  and  followed  the  sea  for 
some  years.  Was  residing  in  Pierce  at  the  opening  of  the  war, 
and  entered  the  Twenty-sixth  Georgia,  and  followed  the  fortunes 
of  the  confederacy  to  Appomatox.  Returning  penniless,  went  to 
work  for  a  living,  and  now,  after  a  few  years  of  hard  labor  and 
devotion  to  his  truck  farm,  he  shows  results  that  might  gladden 
the  heart  of  a  king,  and  is  quite  as  independent  as  a  millionaire. 
Last  year,  on  a  measured  one-eighth  of  an  acre  he  made  and  sold 
$75  worth  of  cabbages,  and  then  planted  the  patch  in  potatoes  and 
gathered  seventy-two  bushels.  He  adopts  the  intensive  system, 
makes  his  ground  rich,  and  never  fails  to  get  good  returns. 

Among  the  enterprising  planters  who  have  been  primely  in- 
strumental in  placing  Pierce  on  its  present  high  plane  of  prosper- 
ity, may  be  mentioned  Chas.  S.  Youmans,  J.  T.  McThain,  James 
M.  Johnson,  Ben.  C.  Davis,  Dan  R.  Johnson,  Russell  Raulerson, 
Berry  Henderson,  John  Aspinwall,  Henry  I.  Strickland,  Mike 
Henderson,  Leslie  Rauierson,  John  Donaldson,  Martin  Sweat, 
Dread  Byrd,  Thomas  Woods,  Mrs.  Mary  Walker  (a  widow  lady), 
A.  P.  Wade,  W.  T.  Sweat,  J.  J.  Henderson,  Joseph  Dixon,  Joseph 
E.  Green,  James  Brown,  James  S.  Youmans,  James  A.  Waters, 
H.  McKeever,  J.  M.  Reynolds.  The  last  two  are  recent  immi- 
grants from  South  Carolina. 

Schlatterville,  another  pretty  little  village,  and  thrifty  withal, 
adorns  their  gem  of  the  forest.  It  is  situated  on  the  Brunswick 
and  Albany  Railroad,  forty-nine  miles  from  the  city  of  Bruns- 
wick and  ten  miles  from  Waycross.  Here  are  two  stores,  a  post 
office,  two  churches,  a  school,  a  turpentine  farm  and  a  steam  saw, 
mill.  Messrs.  Lee  &  Rawles  and  W.  F.  Bailey  &  Co.  are  the 
mercantile  firms,  and  are  doing  a  very  good  business.  Bailey's 
mill  has  a  capacity  of  20,000  feet  per  day,  cuts  20,000  acres,  and 
and  employs  fifty  hands,  and  ships  to  Brunswick. 

Hoboken  is  in  the  southeast  corner  of  Pierce  county,  and  is  sit- 
uated on  the  Brunswick  and  Albany  Railroad,  forty-three  miles 
from  Brunswick.  Here  Mr.  W.  E.  Burbage  has  an  extensive  tur- 
pentine farm,  owning  and  controlling  107  lots  of  490  acres  each. 


52  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

He  runs  56  crops,  700,000  boxes,  and  employs  ninety  hands. 
Mr.  Burbage  tapped  this  farm  five  years  ago,  and  is  therefore 
about  ready  to  turn  it  over  to  the  axe  and  the  circular  saw.  He 
has  a  store  and  sells  a  large  quantity  of  merchandise. 

Here  also  Messrs.  Reppard  &  Walter  have  recently  located  a 
mammoth  saw  mill,  and  are  following  the  tappers  with  an  army 
of  axemen.  This  mill  has  a  capacity  of  50,000  feet  of  lumber  per 
day,  woiks  -  -  employes,  ships  to  Brunswick,  and  is  regarded 
as  one  of  the  leading  mills  of  the  country.  These  gentlemen  own 
vast  tracts  of  pine  land  and  a  number  of  mills,  and  as  they  will 
come  more  prominently  to  the  front  next  week,  when  Ware 
county  will  be  heard  from,  further  reference  to  their  minor  enter- 
prises is  deferred. 

The  lands  about  Hoboken  and  Schlatterville  have  been  turpen- 
tined and  partially  denuded  by  cutting  for  the  mill,  but  there  is 
still  a  superabundance  of  timber  for  all  practical  and  desirable 
purposes.  The  country  along  this  line  is  flat,  but  easily  drained 
into  the  Satilla  ;  the  soil  is  light,  easily  cultivated,  and  responds 
profitably  to  industry,  skillful  labor  and  liberal  fertilizing. 

c.  w.  s. 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  53 


CHAPTER   VII. 

Articles    upon    a  few    Special   Industries    in    South 
Georgia,  from    Waycross  Reporter. 


SHEEP   HUSBANDRY. 

At  the  risk  of  repeating  some  statistics  already  given  we  quote 
from  an  official  compilation  of  statistics  and  facts  in  relation  to 
sheep  farming  in  Georgia,  published  in  1875,  the  following:  Of 
those  who  have  tested  crosses  in  Georgia  98  per  cent,  report 
cross  of  the  Spanish  Merino  and  native  most  profitable.  Aver- 
age annual  profit  on  capital  invested,  63  per  cent.  Average  total 
annual  cost  of  keeping,  54  cents  per  head.  Average  cost  of  rais- 
ing a  pound  of  wool,  six  cents.  Average  price  of  unwashed 
wool  33^  cents,  or  27^  cents  net  profit.  An  average  of  74 
lambs  are  raised  every  year  for  100  sheep,  notwithstanding  care- 
less raising,  neglect,  ravages  of  dogs,  eagles,  wild  cats,  and  other 
enemies.  Average  yield  of  wool  per  sheep  is  3  44-100  pounds, 
which,  at  27^  cents,  gives  average  clear  income  per  sheep,  from 
wool,  of  94  cents.  Average  price  of  lambs  sold  the  butcher  is 
$1.87  per  head.  Average  price  of  stock  sheep,  per  head,  is  $2.58. 
Average  price  of  muttons,  $2.75  per  head.  Dogs  are  the  chief 
enemy  of  the  sheep.  There  were  in  Georgia  in  1860,  512,618 
sheep;  in  1870,  419,465  ;  in  1875,  319,323,  or  a  decrease  in  fifteen 
years  of  193,295,  or  38  per  cent.  There  are  99,415  dogs  in  the 
State.  They  destroyed  between  April,  1874,  and  April,  1875, 
28,265  sheep.  Fifteen  per  cent,  of  the  sheep  in  the  State  are 
annually  destroyed  by  dogs ;  six  per  cent,  only  die  by  disease  and 
other  causes.  There  are  thirty-one  dogs  to  every  one  hundred 
sheep,  or  nearly  one  dog  to  three  sheep.  They  destroy  yearly 
28,265  sheep,  worth  $73,852,  or  nine  per  cent,  of  the  value  of  all 
the  sheep  in  the  State.  Notwithstanding  this  loss  the  annual 
profit  is  53  per  cent.  Remove  this  cause  of  loss  and  the  annual 
profit  will  be  73  per  cent. 

One  hundred  sheep  regularly  folded  will  fertilize  so  as  to  double 


54  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

the  yield  of  crops  eight  acres  per  year,  and  the  present  number 
in  Georgia  would  fertilize  and  double  the  crop-growing-  capacity 
of  25.544  acres  annually.  If  that  number  of  acres  produced 
without  enrichment  a  half  bale  of  cotton,  with  such  enrichment 
it  would  produce  a  bale  per  acre  worth  at  $50  per  bale  $538,600. 
If  there  were  two  million  sheep  in  Georgia  the  increased  produc- 
tion from  enrichment  by  folding  would  be  $4,000,000  per  year. 

The  climate  of  Georgia  corresponds  with  that  of  the  best  wool 
growing  regions  of  the  world.  Spain,  once  so  famous  for  its  Meri- 
no's, is  warmer  on  its  southern  coast  than  Southern  Georgia.  Aus- 
tralia, now  one  of  the  principal  wool  growing  regions  of  the 
world,  embraces  the  latitude  of  Georgia;  but  a  maximum  tem- 
perature in  December,  their  midsummer  month,  of  112  degrees 
Fahrenheit. 

In  1810  the  export  of  wool  from  Australia  and  Van  Demen's 
land  was  167  pounds.  In  1833  it  was  3,516,369  pounds.  1°  I^>43 
it  was  16,226,400  pounds.  In  1848  it  was  30,034,567  pounds. 
In  1871  the  crop  of  Australia,  Tasmania  and  New  Zealand  was 
168,785,993  pounds. 

The  effects  of  warm  climates  and  their  perrenial  herbage  on 
wool  bear  a  marked  analogy  to  the  effect  upon  vegetation,  giving 
increased  vigor  of  growth,  length,  uniformity  arid  strength  of 
fibre,  and  consequently  greater  weight  to  the  wool. 

It  costs  scarcely  anything  to  keep  a  sheep  in  Georgia.  It  costs 
about  the  value  of  one  of  our  sheep  to  winter  a  sheep  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, giving  to  warm  climates  a  decided  advantage. 

Listen  to  a  South  Georgian :  Mr.  David  Ayers,  of  Camilla, 
Mitchell  county,  (a  fair  sample  of  Southern  Georgia)  where  the 
original  pine  forest  is  carpeted  with  native  grass,  says  his  sheep, 
3,500  in  number,  cost  him  annually  14  cents  per  head;  clip  three 
pounds  per  head  of  unwashed  wool,  which  sells  at  30  cents  per 
pound,  giving  a  clear  profit  on  the  money  and  labor  invested  of 
90  per  cent. 

Lands  suited  to  sheep  and  agricultural  purposes  can  be  pur- 
chased in  Southern  Georgia  for  from  25  cents  to  $5.00  per  acre. 
Mr.  Ayers  does  not  feed  his  sheep  at  any  time  during  the  year, 
nor  has  he  introduced  the  improved  breeds.  Of  course  a  cross 
of  the  Spanish  Merino  would  give  better  results.  His  sheep 
receive  little  care  except  to  be  gathered  up  once  a  year  to  be 
sheared  and  marked. 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  55 

Mr.  Richard  Peters,  the  leading  sheep  owner  of  North  Georgia, 
says  the  cross  of  Spanish  Merino  is  the  best.  (Indeed,  that  is 
the  verdict  the  whole  country  gives.) 

It  is  hoped,  and  believed,  that  the  Legislature  will  adopt  such 
measures  as  will  remove  the  present  obstacles  to  sheep  husbandry 
in  Georgia.  If  this  is  done  thousands  of  farmers  in  Georgia  will 
at  once  embark  in  sheep  husbandry,  and  millions  of  acres  cf 
land  now  idle,  and  an  expense  to  their  owners,  will  be  rendered 
profitable  as  sheep  walks,  and  gradually  improved  in  fertility.  It 
will  open  the  way  for  a  tide  of  immigration  into  Georgia  of  thou- 
sands of  the  best,  most  quiet,  peaceable,  industrious  and  profitable 
laborers,  who  nearly  double  their  number  annually,  demand  no 
wages,  do  not  steal  or  commit  other  crimes,  labor  assiduously 
throughout  the  year,  feed  and  clothe  themselves  and  their  owners, 
make  no  strikes,  utter  no  complaints,  and  never  "die  in  debt  to 
man."  Even  their  death  brings  a  profit,  and  they  pay  63  per 
cent,  on  the  investment  per  year. 

CONCLUDING    REMARKS. 

The  most  remarkable  fact  developed  in  the  foregoing  paper  (the 
above  are  only  substantial  extracts)  is  the  handsome  profit  de- 
rived from  sheep  husbandry  in  the  face  of  the  most  adverse  cir- 
circumstances.  It  is  a  notorious  fact  that  very  few  of  those  who 
keep  sheep  in  Georgia  pay  more  attention  to  them  than  to  mark 
and  shear  them,  except  in  the  northern  portion  of  the  Statej 
where  they  are  fed  a  little  in  the  severe  weather  of  winter.  In 
view,  too,  of  the  fact  that  so  large  a  per  cent,  are  annually  de- 
stroyed by  dogs,  the  profits  under  the  "  let  alone"  system  so 
generally  adopted  is  unparalleled.  What  other  investment  will 
declare  such  dividends  under  similar  circumstances ;  we  add, 
under  any  circumstances? 

NATURAL    PASTURES. 

There  are  about  10,000,000  acres  of  practically  unoccupied 
lands  in  Georgia,  nearly  all  of  which  might  be  profitably  utilized 
as  sheep  walks.  A  vast  region  in  Southeastern  and  Southern 
Georgia,  extending  from  Savannah  to  the  Chattahoochee  rivers, 
is  a  natural  pasture,  on  which  a  million  sheep  could  be  raised 
with  trifling  expense,  on  the  native  wire  grass  which  grows  up 


56  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

luxuriantly,  affording  excellent  pasturage  in  summer,  and  a  sub- 
sistence on  the  underneath,  which  remains  green  in  winter.  The 
most  valuable  spontaneous  grass,  however,  is  the  Bermuda,  which 
is  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  purpose  of  sheep  pasturage,  forming 
an  impenetrable  sod  of  exceedingly  nutritious  grass,  equal  to  the 
best  blue  grass  pastures  of  Kentucky,  from  early  spring  until 
frost.  It  will  also  supply  winter  pasturage,  where  partially  pro- 
tected by  pine  trees,  under  which  it  remains  green  the  entire 
winter,  and  is  relished  by  all  kinds  of  stock.  A  sod  of  Bermuda 
grass  on  lands,  unprofitable  for  cultivation,  will  support  five  sheep 
per  acre  for  nine  months  in  the  year,  and  the  sheep  will  make  the 
land  rich. 

The  above  is  a  substantial  quotation  from  a  manual  on  sheep 
husbandry  published  in  1875,  by  our  Agricultural  Bureau.  No 
compilation  of  statistics  since  that  time  have  been  made ;  but  the 
data  obtainable  in  the  Comptroller's  reports,  and  in  agricultural 
magazines,  indicates  that  there  has  been  a  very  large  increase  in 
the  number  of  sheep  in  the  State.  Who  shall  say  that  this 
manual  hns  not  had  an  important  effect  in  the  right  direction  ? 
It  is  out  of  print.  We  have  the  only  copy  obtainable  at  the 
Agricultural  Bureau.  Could  Commissioner  Henderson  do  a 
nobler  work  than  to  re-publish  it,  with  the  additions,  giving  the 
data  since  1875? 

Whatever  the  increase  since  1875  for  the  whole  State  may  be, 
the  increase  in  Southern  Georgia  has  been  very  great,  as  demon- 
strated by  the  increase  of  the  sale  of  wool  at  Alapaha,  Albany, 
Brunswick  and  Savannah,  which  has  nearly  doubled,  and  yet 
there  is  not  one  sheep  in  Georgia  where  one  thousand  could  be 
profitably  raised. 

You  may  travel  on  our  lines  of  road  for  hundreds  of  miles  and 
it  is  the  rarest  of  occurrences  to  see  a  flock  or  even  a  bunch  of 
sheep. 

The  statistics  and  facts  above  given  furnish  food  for  thought 
to  the  South  Georgian,  to  all  who  are  thinking  of  a  change  of 
location  and  a  profitable  investment  of  capital  from  other  States. 

The  statistics  from  the  whole  State  do  not  begin  to  show  all 
the  special  advantages  for  sheep  husbandry  of  Southern  Georgia. 
It  will  be  noticed  that  the  average  cost  of  keeping  a  sheep  for  the 
State  is  58  cents  per  head.  In  Southern  Georgia  by  Mr.  Ayers 
figures  but  14  cents.  It  is  believed  that  the  loss  from  dogs  is 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  57 

nothing  like  as  great  in  Southern  Georgia  as  it  is  in  other  portions 
of  the  State. 

SPECIAL   ADVANTAGES    OF    SOUTH    GEORGIA. 

South  Georgia  does  not  suffer  so  much  from  drouths  as  other 
portions  of  the  State.  Her  wiregrass  and  Bermuda,  growing 
under  trees,  does  not  suffer  from  heat  and  drouth  as  in  the 
open  fields  of  older  communities,  where  lands  have  been  almost 
denuded  of  timber.  Her  vast  forests  offer  refreshing  shade 
to  the  sheep  patiently  bearing  its  heavy  load  of  wool.  The 
whole  country  is  threaded  by  rivers  and  creeks  and  perrenniaj 
springs,  furnishing  ample  water.  The  burrs  which  in  many  sec- 
tions of  the  country  get  in  the  wool  and  injure  it,  necessitating 
tearing  of  the  fibre  to  get  rid  of  them,  are  not  found  with  us. 
Our  pasturage  is  what  may  properly  be  called  a  clean  one.  It  is 
grass,  and  nothing  but  grass,  for  hundreds  of  miles.  We  never 
have  snow  to  cover  the  vegetation  and  prevent  the  sheep  from 
securing  a  supply  of  feed  the  year  round.  Our  climate  is  mild  in 
winter,  and  is  still  more  mild  than  it  otherwise  would  be  by  rea- 
son of  the  breeze  from  the  ocean  and  the  vast  forests  of  pine. 
Our  climate  is  healthy  both  for  man  and  beast.  Our  sheep  re- 
quire little  care  in  winter,  escaping  all  the  vicissitudes  of  a  cold 
climate,  the  thousand  and  one  diseases  that  a  cold  climate  brings, 
the  loss  of  tender  young  lambs,  etc. 

We  are  not  obliged  to  house  and  care  for  our  sheep  in  winter 
as  in  the  great  sheep  States  of  the  North,  or  to  drive  them  hun- 
dreds of  miles  to  the  mountains  during  the  dry  season,  as  in 
California ;  and  yet,  with  all  these  drawbacks,  Ohio,  Pennsyl- 
vania and  New  York  in  the  North,  California,  on  the  Pacific, 
Missouri,  in  the  West,  all  make  heavy  profits  from  sheep  hus- 
bandry. 

We  challenge  the  production  of  a  man  in  Southern  Georgia 
who  has  a  bunch  of  sheep  or  flock  who  has  not  made  money  out 
of  them,  and  who  has  not  made  it  easier  than  he  could  in  any 
other  occupation  whatever. 

We  announce  what  may  seem  startling  propositions,  but  are 
prepared  to  prove  them : 

ist.  That  Southern  Georgia  will  readilv  support  at  once  one 
million  sheep,  and  in  ten  years  two  million.  That  for  every  1,000 
sheep  pastured  per  year,  the  capacity  of  the  land  to  support 


58  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

sheep  can  be  increased  so  that  365  more  can  be  raised  to  the 
thousand  the  next. 

2nd.  That  one  million  sheep  will  double  the-  crop-bearing 
capacity  of  75,000  acres  of  land  per  year,  and  that  in  twenty 
years  a  million  sheep  would  make  of  South  Georgia  the  richest 
agricultural  portion  of  the  State. 

3rd.  That  two  million  sheep  would  increase  the  productiveness 
of  our  lands  by  combining  sheep  husbandry  with  farming  $4,000,- 
ooo  per  year. 

4th.  That  the  capital  invested  in  one  million  sheep  would  be 
$2,580,000,  and  that  it  would  bring  yearly  a  net  profit  of  not  less 
than  $1,548,000,  or  60  per  cent.,  and  in  Southern  Georgia  prob- 
ably at  least  15  per  cent,  in  excess  of  this,  and  that  this  is  true  of 
sheep  farming,  as  at  present  conducted,  without  care,  without 
effort,  without  protection  of  the  sheep  from  their  enemies,  with- 
out folding,  without  combining  sheep  husbandry  and  agriculture, 
which  would  double  the  profit  here  estimated. 

This  estimate  is  based  on  hard  facts  and  figures  obtained  by 
patient  enquiry  from  all  portions  of  the  State — obtained  not  upon 
what  can  be  done,  but  what  has  been  done ;  not  based  on  figures 
from  other  States,  but  based  solely  upon  figures  obtained  in 
Georgia  from  men  actually  engaged  in  sheep  husbandry.  They 
show  that  we  are  in  the  infancy  of  a  business  more  important 
than  our  naval  stores  and  mill  business  combined ;  a  business 
which  will  enrich  our  soil,  add  to  our  agricultural  productions  in 
an  ever  increasing  ratio — bring  us  wealth,  prosperity  and  power. 

And  this  is  but  one  of  the  many  advantages  South  Georgia 
offers  to  her  own  j  eople  and  to  industrious  immigrants  and  capi- 
talists from  abroad. 

We  invite  a  careful  perusal  of  this  article.  We  invite  you  to 
compare  the  facts  and  figures  and  estimates  here  given  with  the 
actual  experience  of  the  men  engaged  in  sheep  husbandry  in 
your  neighborhood. 

We  invite  capitalists  and  immigrants  from  abroad  to  give  this 
matter  the  fullest  investigation,  for  investigation  is  all  that  is 
needed  to  demonstrate  the  manifold  advantages  of  Southern 
Georgia. 

We  invite  the  press  of  Southern  Georgia  to  investigate  and 
write  up  their  section  faithfully,  truly.  Let  in  the  flood  light  of 
information  which  a  free  use  of  printing  ink  and  a  faithful  pre- 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  59 

sentation  of  the  facts  will  do.  Disseminate  this  information  in  all 
quarters  of  this  country  and  in  Europe,  and  our  word  for  it,  you 
shall  see  capital,  energy  and  muscle  transforming  this  section  of 
Georgia  so  that  it  shall  become  one  of  the  brightest  sections  of 
the  bright  new  South  which  is  coming,  which  is  here,  which  sings 
the  song  of  a  new  era  of  material  development  in  the  hum  of 
machinery  upon  our  watercourses,  in  our  mills  and  factories,  in 
the  tune  of  a  thousand  new  industries  growing  from  infancy  to 
strength,  in  the  white  winged  sails  of  commerce  filling  our  ports, 
in  the  railroad  trains  thundering  through  our  forests  and  reaching 
out  to  gather  in  for  shipment  at  our  ports  the  varied  products 
of  the  North  and  Southwest,  in  the  steamers  from  our  country's 
great  business  centers  and  from  Europe  ploughing  our  waters 
and  bringing  us  wealth,  in  the  work  of  thousands  of  men  extend- 
ing our  railroad  system  and  building  feeders  to  them  and  opening 
up  new  sections  to  the  markets  of  the  world. 

Let  us  be  wise  in  our  day  and  generation.  The  world  is 
moving  with  unexampled  rapidity  in  the  race  of  material  develop- 
ment. Let  us  not  lag  behind,  but  rather  with  might  and  main 
strive  ever  to  make  our  section,  so  long  neglected,  so  long  mis- 
understood, bright  with  the  sunshine  of  prosperity. 


VALUE   OF  PINE  LANDS  OF  SOUTHERN 
GEORGIA. 

We  met  a  man  the  other  day  of  mature  years,  broad  intelli- 
gence, general  reading,  and  practical  business  habits.  We  may 
add  that  he  was  outside  the  limits  of  any  insane  asylum,  was  born 
in  Southern  Georgia,  and  has  spent  a  long  and  uselul  life  in  the 
pine  woods,  and  he  announced  the  proposition  that  the  pine  lands 
were  worth  more  per  acre  with  the  timber  oft  than  with  it  on. 
We  asked  him  his  reasons,  which  he  readily  gave.  Said  he : 
"  The  timber  once  cut  from  these  lands  cannot  be  replaced.  It 
is  the  growth  of  centuries.  .  To  utilize  the  land  for  agriculture  the 
timber  must  be  cut  off.  That  is  the  timber  and  lumberman's 
mission.  It  is  fortunate  that  our  timber  has  a  great  commercial 
value,  because  the  process  of  clearing  the  land  brings  a  handsome 
return  to  the  land  owner ;  but  if  the  timber  was  commercially 
valueless,  we  should  then  be  forced  to  cut  it  down  and  burn  it, 


60  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

for  our  pine  lands  have  an  intrinsic  value  for  agricultural  purposes 
not  dreamed  of  by  their  owners. 

"  The  population  of  this  country  is  increasing  wonderfully.  In 
1830  it  was  only  17,000,000.  In  fifty  years  it  has  trebled.  The 
wealth  per  capita  is  increasing  faster  than  the  population.  The 
great  cities  of  the  country  are  becoming  wealthy,  and  able  to 
purchase  luxuries.  Among  the  luxuries  they  are  able  and  willing 
to  purchase  are  early  vegetables  of  all  kind,  and  fruits  small  and 
large.  The  wealthy  residents  of  New  York,  Boston,  Philadelphia 
and  the  great  cities  of  the  Northwest  care  nothing  for  the  price  : 
they  want  them  out  of  season. 

"  We  have  the  soil  and  climate  calculated  to  produce  them. 
We  have  the  vast  marl  and  phosphate  deposits  on  our  coasts,  vast 
bodies  of  vegetable  matter  in  our  swamps,  the  manure  made  by 
our  cattle  and  sheep,  with  which  to  enrich  this  soil.  It  answers 
promptly  and  with  rich  harvests  to  such  treatment.  It  is  what 
may  with  propriety  be  called  quick  land.  It  will  raise  two  crops 
a  year,  even  more,  and  only  asks  for  the  same  process  of  enrich- 
ment that  the  truck  farmer  and  horticulturist  of  the  North  well 
understands  must  be  given  to  any  land  to  raise  fruits  and  veg- 
etables with  profit. 

"  We  want  to  disabuse  our  own  minds  of  the  idea  that  there  is 
nothing  in  our  lands  except  timber.  We  cut  and  ship  from 
Brunswick  and  Savannah  some  of  the  finest  yellow  pine  timber  in 
the  world.  Land  which  produces  these  trees  must  be  valuable. 
The  tree  is  essentially  an  air  plant.  It  returns  to  the  soil  in  veg- 
etable matter  far  more  than  it  takes  from  it. 

"  But  you  may  say  this  is  all  theory.  Let  me  give  you  a  few 
facts.  The  Glynn  County  Agricultural  Society  was  organized  in 
1871  by  Judge  Harris,  P.  M.  Nightingale  and  others.  In  1877 
they  undertook  to  have  a  fair.  At  that  time  it  was  accepted  as  an 
axiom  that  cabbage  and  onions  could  not  be  grown  successfully 
here.  All  of  both  vegetables  .were  imported  from  the  North.  The 
display  was  very  meagre.  Next  year  other  counties  were  invited, 
viz  :  Wayne,  Appling,  Ware,  Clinch,  Pierce,  Camden  and  Charl- 
ton.  The  cabbage  and  all  other  vegetables  were  larger,  until  in 
1879,  1880  and  1 88 1  the  display  from  these  counties  has  become 
not  only  creditable  but  extraordinary.  Cabbage  by  the  wagon- 
load  have  been  displayed,  as  hard  as  any  ever  raised  .in  the  North 
and  weighing  eighteen  pounds  average  all  round,  and  single 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  6 1 

specimens  weighing  thirty-five  to  thirty-nine  pounds.  Onions 
six  inches  in  diameter  and  five  inches  deep.  Beets  of  enormous 
size.  Celery  of  good  quality;  and  all  through  the  vegetable  lists 
the  display  has  been  fine.  More  significant  than  that,  the  same 
sort  of  cabbage  and  onions  and  other  vegetables  are  found  in  our 
markets  of  Brunswick,  almost  displacing  the  importations  from 
the  North.  I  have  seen  eighteen  pound  cabbage,  hard  as  a  rock, 
white  and  beautiful  as  the  finest  Northern  cabbage,  selling  by  the 
load  in  Brunswick  ;  Irish  potatoes  as  fine  as  mortal  man  could 
desire  ;  beets,  onions,  and  other  vegetables.  In  Pierce  and  other 
counties  fine  vegetables  are  being  raised.  Corn  on  land  without 
enrichment  has  yielded  as  high  as  twenty-five  bushels  per  acre  ; 
with  enrichment  from  forty  to  one  hundred  and  three  bushels  per 
acre,  and  this  upon  the  much  despised  lands  of  Southern  Georgia. 
Oats  are  a  success  wherever  planted,  and  are  being  planted  more 
widely  every  year.  Albany,  Alapaha,  Hazlehurst,  Brunswick  and 
other  points  are  important  wool  markets,  and  the  production  is 
increasing  every  year ;  hundreds  of  men  are  making  a  handsome 
income  from  it  on  the  lines  of  road.  Dry  rice  culture  is  profitable, 
and  the  acreage  is  constantly  increasing.  Sugar  cane  can  be  and 
is  profitably  cultivated.  The  truth  is,  that  taking  the  healthful- 
ness,  mildness  of  climate,  and  nearness  to  the  great  markets  of 
the  country  into  consideration,  this  is  as  fine  a  section  for  truck 
farmers,  horticulturists,  sheep  owners,  and  even  for  the  general 
farmer,  as  can  be  found  in  the  country. 

"  What  we  need  is  a  crop  of  men.  Give  us  these,  and  the  wil- 
derness will  lose  its  wildness.  Green  crops  will  greet  our  eyes 
the  whole  length  of  our  lines  of  road;  farm  houses,  barns,  and  all 
those  improvements  which  indicate  a  prosperous  farming  country 
will  be  seen  on  every  hand ;  the  change  will  be  seen  on  our  tax 
digests,  in  our  census  reports,  in  our  boys  and  girls'  faces,  in  their 
remaining  at  home  instead  of  leaving  so  soon  as  they  get  an  edu- 
cation." 

BY  THE  EDITOR. — Was  this  man  insane,  or  was  he  speaking 
the  words  of  soberness  and  truth  ?  Is  it  true  that  we  have  been 
hugging  a  delusion  when  we  have  repeated  the  oft  told  tale  that 
our  pine  woods  are  valueless  ? 

If  this  man  was  insane,  so  are  we.  And  we  hope  this  insanity,  if 
such  it  be,  may  permeate  this  country  until  all  appreciate  the 
glorious  heritage  which  is  ours,  and  until  every  individual  in 


62  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

Southern  Georgia  shall  become  a  committee  of  one,  and  all  shall 
form  a  committee  of  the  whole  to  make  this  country  all  that 
energy,  intelligence,  work  and  immigration  can  make  it. 

Everything  is  propitious.  Our  railroads  are  all  in  strong  hands 
in  the  hands  of  broad-minded  men  anxious  to  develop  the  material 
interests  of  the  country  through  which  their  roads  run  and  willing 
to  spend  money  to  bring  the  muscle  and  energy  here  which  can 
aid  us  in  such  development.  Our  timber  is  bringing  us  fair 
returns.  The  markets  are  growing  better  each  year  for  our  agri- 
cultural productions,  and  the  facilities  to  reach  them  greater. 

Let  us  then,  mill  men  and  farmers,  merchants  and  doctors, 
lawyers  and  preachers,  men  and  women  everywhere,  arouse  from 
our  lethargy,  spread  the  truth,  open  our  eyes  and  then  the  eyes 
of  others  to  our  grand  opportunities,  and  joining  the  railroads  in 
the  liberal  policy  they  have  inaugurated,  march  on  to  that  era  of 
prosperity,  happiness  and  wealth  which  are  the  sure  goal  of  earnest 
effort. 

UPLAND  RICE. 

TWO  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY-SEVEN  BUSHELS    FROM  SIX  ACRES. 

Is  there  money  in  the  cultivation  of  rice  on  the  uplands  ? 

This  is  an  important  question  for  the  people  of  the  pine  lands, 
and  its  solution  depends  upon  the  practical  application  of  facts  in 
experiment,  and  intelligence  in  culture. 

One  good  solid  fact  resulting  from  experiment  is  worth  a  world, 
of  theory,  and  the  planter  who  disregards  it  stands  in  his  own 
light,  and  will  fall  behind  his  more  progressive  and  more  enlight- 
ened neighbors. 

A  reliable  statement  comes  to  us  from  Coffee  county,  that 
Henry  Peterson,  Jr.,  who  plants  in  the  vicinity  of  Douglas,  last 
year  planted  six  acres  of  uplands  in  rice  and  fertilized  it  with  half 
a  ton  of  guano  only  ;  that  from  these  six  acres  he  harvested  two 
hundred  and  twenty -seven -bushels  of  rough  rice,  and  sold  it  for 
one  dollar  and  five  cents  per  bushel  at  home.  This  was  a  yield 
of  thirty-eight  and  a  half  bushels  to  the  acre,  or  $40.42. 

Suppose  his  guano  cost  $30,  or  $5  per  acre,  and  the  labor  $5 
per  acre  more.  There  would  still  be  left  a  clear  net  profit  of 
$30.42  per  acre.  Now,  if  this  be  true,  and  no  one  has  a  right  to 
doubt  its  authenticity,  the  problem  is  solved,  and  all  men  of  com- 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  63 

mon  understanding  in  this  section  will  accept  the  fact  and  put  in 
less  cotton  and  more  rice  for  the  crops  ofi88i.  There  is  no 
danger  of  overstocking  the  market.  We  are  importing  75,000,000 
bushels  annually  from  foreign  countries  to  supply  the  demand  in 
the  States,  whereas  we  should  be  exporting  hundreds  of  thou- 
sands of  bushels  to  feed  the  outside  world. 

Plant  rice  !  Plant  it  in  rows  two  feet  and  a  half  apart ;  plant  a 
great  many  rows  ;  plant  the  big  field  and  the  little  field,  and  don't 
neglect  to  encourage  the  seed  or  cultivate  the  plants.  There  is 
money  in  it. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

Islands  on  the  Southern  Coast  of  Georgia. 


The  coast  of  Georgia  is  lined  by  a  succession  of  islands,  inter- 
sected by  numerous  navigable  channels,  which  afford  good  inland 
navigation  all  along  shore.  They  are  generally  separated  from 
each  other  by  wide  bays  or  sounds  which  bear  their  names.  The 
principal  islands,  beginning  on  the  northern  extremity  of  the 
coast  of  Georgia  are  St.  Catherine's,  Sapelo,  St.  Simon's,  Jekyle, 
and  Cumberland.  They  were  once  covered  with  rich  plantations 
which  produced  the  valuable  long  staple  cotton,  called  from  the 
place  of  its  growth,  sea-island  cotton. 

These  islands,  like  the  neighboring  mainland,  are  covered 
(when  not  cleared  for  cultivation)  with  forests  of  live-oak,  water- 
oak,  pine,  cedar  and  palmetto.  As  the  traveler  glides  by  these 
shores  in  a  steamboat,  he  is  enchanted  by  the  prospect  of  their 
lively  verdure,  interspersed  with  their  thick  forests.  The  live-oak, 
which  is  so  called  on  account  of  its  being  an  evergreen,  is  a  noble 
tree,  with  a  trunk  sometimes  twelve  feet  in  girth  ;  its  long  branches 
are  spread  horizontally,  and  festoons  of  moss  hang  from  them, 
almost  sweeping  the  ground.  The  magnolia  is  here  seen,  covered 
with  large  white  blossoms  shaped  like  a  lily,  and  a  foot  in  cir- 
cumference; and  the  cabbage  palmetto  scattered  throughout  these 
forests  gives  to  them  a  truly  tropical  appearance. 


64  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

These  islands  offer  to  the  emigrant  every  inducement  that  can 
be  asked  for  in  climate  and  soil.  Having  the  ocean  for  an  eastern 
boundary,  the  never-failing  sea  breeze  renders  the  summer  tem- 
perature delightful  and  invigorating,  the  thermometer  seldom 
reaching  90°  ;  from  the  same  cause  the  winters  are  moderate  and 
mild,  and  25°  of  cold  is  of  very  rare  occurrence. 

They  have  a  gray,  sandy  soil,  easy  to  cultivate,  producing  cot- 
ton, corn,  peas,  potatoes,  cane,  oats,  rye,  etc.  Among  the  fruits 
that  thrive  well,  especially  on  the  islands  of  St.  Simon's  and 
Cumberland,  are  peaches,  pears,  figs,  oranges  and  bananas.  Other 
tropical  fruits  which  have  been  acclimatized  grow  to  great  perfec- 
tion. 

Olives  are  successfully  cultivated,  and  oil  made  from  the  olives 
grown  on  St.  Simon's  Island  has  been  pronounced  by  competent 
judges  not  inferior  to  the  best  productions  of  France  or  Spain. 
The  suitableness  of  the  soil  and  climate  of  this  portion  of  the 
coast  of  Georgia  to  the  olive  tree  admits  of  no  doubt.  The  exper- 
ment  has  been  successfully  made,  and  trees  have  yielded  regular 
crops  since  1835,  and  during  all  that  time  have  never  been  injured 
by  cold.  It  thrives  on  every  soil  that  is  not  wet.  That  the  sandy 
lands  of  our  seaboard  are  adapted  to  the  olive  tree  needs  no  better 
proof  than  the  luxuriant  growth  of  the  trees  on  St.  Simon's  and 
Cumberland  Islands.  The  oil  crop  from  these  islands  is  annually 
sold  at  from  $6  to  $8  per  gallon. 

The  scuppernong  grape  thrives  as  well  as  in  its  native  State. 
The  soil  and  climate  of  the  islands  are  peculiarly  adapted  to  its 
perfect  development.  White,  in  his  description  of  this  grape* 
says : 

"  We  consider  this  very  peculiar  grape  one  of  the  greatest  boons 
to  the  South.  It  has  very  little  resemblance  to  any  of  the  grapes 
of  the  other  sorts.  It  is  a  rampant  grower  and  requires  little,  if 
any,  cultivation.  It  blooms  from  the  i5th  to  the  last  of  June,  and 
ripens  its  fruit  the  last  of  September  or  beginning  of  October.  It 
has  no  disease  in  wood,  leaf  or  fruit,  and  rarely,  if  ever,  fails  to 
produce  a  heavy  crap.  We  have  never  known  it  to  fail.  Neither 
birds  nor  insects  ever  attack  the  fruit. 

"  It  will  produce  a  greater  weight  of  fruit  than  any  other  variety 
in  the  world.  The  clusters  vary  in  size  from  two  to  twenty  ber- 
ries, and  the  berries  in  size  from  three-fourths  to  one  inch  and  a 
quarter  in  diameter. 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  65 

"Vines,  six  years  transplanted,  have  this  year  given  an  average 
of  three  bushels  to  each  vine.  We  are  credibly  informed  that  a 
vine  of  this  variety  is  growing  near  Mobile  which  has  produced 
two  hundred  and  fifty  bushels  of  grapes  in  a  year,  and  we  know . 
that  vines  ten  venrs  old  have  given  and  will  give  thirty  bushels 
per  vine  -iiel  of  these  grapes  will  give  from  three  to  three 

an  ,  a  half  gallons  of  juice,  according  to  ripeness. 

"  It  is  the  sweetest  and  most  luscious  of  any  grape  we  have  ever 
seen  or  tasted;  makes  a  fine,  heavy,  high-flavored,  fruity  wine,  and 
is  peculiarly  adapted  to  making  foaming  wines. 

"We  do  not  hesitate  to  recommend  this  variety  to  our  friends 
at  the  South,  and  pledge  our  reputation  as  a  pomologist  that  he 
who  plants  it  will  never  regret  having  done  so." 

On  the  Island  of  St.  Simon's,  truck-farming  for  the  Northern 
and  Western  markets  has  grown  rapidly  in  the  last  three  years, 
and  it  is  on  this  branch  of  agriculture,  in  connection  with  fruit- 
growing and  a  pleasure  resort,  that  the  future  development  of 
the  island  will  depend.  The  cheap  and  quick  transportation  now 
offered  by  the  railroads  and  steamships  removes  the  only  obsta- 
cle in  the  way  to  a  steady  and  rapid  increase  in  this  branch  of 
industry  Crops  can  be  continually  grown  both  winter  and  sum- 
mer. Two  and  even  three  crops  may  be  gathered  from  the  same 
land  in  the  course  of  the  year.  The  facilities  for  heavy  manur- 
ing, such  as  is  required  for  truck-farms,  can  be  had  in  abund- 
ance from  the  salt  marshes  that  form  the  western  boundary,  lying 
between  the  island  and  mainland.  The  vast  quantities  of  vege- 
table matter  and  muck  from  these "  marshes,  composted  with 
oyster-shell  lime,  form  a  never-failing  and  cheap  supply  of  fer- 
tilizers. These  marshes  are  drained  by  numerous  rivers  and 
creeks,  which  abound  in  fish,  oysters,  clams,  shrimps,  crabs,  and 
other  products  of  the  salt  water. 

Desirable  locations  on  thf  se  islands  can  be  procured,  either  by 
purchase  or  lease,  on  favorable  terms.  Large  estates  that  were 
formerly  devoted  to  the  culture  of  sea-island  cotton  can  now  be 
cut  up  into  truck  farms,  and  used  to  better  advantage  than  could 
be  done  in  cultivating  cotton.  The  uncultivated  lands  afford 
excellent  pasturage  for  cattle  and  hogs,  both  summer  and  winter, 
and  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  sheep  would  thrive  well. 

On  the  southern  end  of  St.  Simon's  Island  are  extensive  saw- 
mills, giving  employment  to  over  one  hundred  and  fifty  hands, 


66  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

and  affording  to  the  surrounding  country  an  abundant  supply  of 
lumber  for  building,  fencing,  etc. 

To  the  tourist  in  search  of  pleasure  or  health,  these  islands  will 
be  found  both  pleasant  and  healthy.  During  the  summer  months 
the  atmosphere  is  kept  cool  and  at  an  even  temperature  by  the 
never-failing  sea-breeze.  This  breeze  is  looked  for  with  almost 
as  much  certainty  as  the  sunrise,  and  seldom  or  never  fails. 
Cumberland  has  a  sea-beach  of  sixteen  miles ;  St.  Simon's,  of 
five  miles.  They  afford  delightful  drives,  being  hard  and  smooth. 
Sea-bathing  is  attended  with  no  risk,  and  can  be  enjoyed  without 
the  fear  of  accident  from  the  under-tow,  which  is  so  often  the 
cause  of  accidents  at  the  Northern  watering  places.  Nothing  of 
the  kind  is  known  on  this  coast.  Fishing  and  hunting  afford 
ample  amusement  to  the  sportsman.  The  rivers  and  woods 
afford  abundance  of  game. 

The  mild  and  even  temperature  of  the  winters  of  St.  Simon's 
and  Cumberland  Islands  renders  these  islands  desirable  localities 
for  those  suffering  from  pulmonary  complaints,  and  persons  so 
affected  visiting  Florida  would  find  these  islands  pleasant  stop- 
ping places  on  the  long  route  from  the  Northern  or  Western 
States  to  Florida. 

The  proximity  to  the  sea,  with  its  refreshing  breezes,  makes 
them  most  healthy  and  agreeable  residences  in  summer;  and  in 
winter  the  same  influence  is  felt  in  the  reduction  of  the  frigidity 
of  the  atmosphere,  coming  in  contact  with  the  warmer  winds  of 
the  ocean.  In  no  place  in  the  whole  State  can  there  be  found  a 
more  salubrious  climate  than  is  to  be  found  on  the  sea  islands  of 
Georgia. 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  67 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Letters  from  Northern  Settlers  on  Lines  of  Road  in  Southern 
Georgia,  and  front  Natives  of  South  Georgia. 

.From  Letters  to   Commissioner  of  Agriculture  of  Georgia  in 

1878-79. 

From  Letters  to  H.  M.  Drane,  Macon  and  Brunswick  Railroad, 

in  1876. 

And  from  Letters  to  Waycross  Reporter  in  1881. 


*  Eastman,  Dodge  Co.,  Ga.,  July  10,  1876. 

COL.  H.  M.  DRANE, 

M.  &  B.  R.  R.,  Macon,  Ga. 

DEAR  SIR  :  In  reply  to  your  request  to  give  you  a  statement 
in  regard  to  this  section  of  Georgia,  generally  known  as  the 
"  piney  woods"  or  "  wiregrass"  country,  I  beg  to  submit  the  fol- 
lowing :  I  have  been  acquainted  with  the  counties  of  Telfair, 
Montgomery,  Pulaski,  and  Dodge  since  1861,  and  have  lived  in. 
this  section  and  traveled  over  the  above-named  counties  and  Lau- 
rens  since  the  first  of  1868.  I  have  run  a  farm  in  Dodge  county 
for  three  years,  and  am  now  farming.  In  the  year  1874  I  kept  an 
account  of  all  expenses  and  proceeds.  Had  upon  the  farm  four 
mules,  but  did  not  use  them  more  than  two-thirds  of  the  time, 
consequently  had  more  expense  than  was  necessary  in  surplus 
stock;  hired  three  regular  hands,  and  hired  day  labor  to  bring 
the  cotton  to  a  stand,  replant  corn,  pull  fodder,  and  pick  cotton. 
Expenses  for  guano,  labor,  rations  for  mules  and  hands,  and  all 
other  expenses,  with  interest  added  at  the  end  of  the  year, 
amounted  to  nearly  $2,000.  Had  about  120  acres  in  cultivation, 
and  raised  from  this  30  bales  of  cotton  averaging  over  500 
pounds,  which  netted  a  little  over  $2,200;  1,200  bushels  of  corn, 
worth  $1.25  per  bushel,  making  $1,500;  fodder,  worth  by  sales 
$150;  i,ooo  bushels  cotton  seed,  worth  as  fertilizer  25  cents  per 
bushel,  making  $250 ;  450  bushels  potatoes,  worth  50  cents  per 
bushel,  making  $225 ;  also  a  fine  crop  of  peas  among  the  corn, 


68  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

worth  at  least  $150,  besides  oats,  etc.  Whole  product  of  farm, 
$4,475.  These  facts  can  be  substantiated  by  reference  to  the 
sale-bills,  etc.  I  had  employed  a  negro  farmer,  and  was  most  of 
the  time  absent  from  the  farm,  and  did  not  work  a  day  on  it,  but 
hired  all  the  labor  done.  This  year  I  am  cultivating  75  acres  in 
corn  and  cotton,  and  8  acres  in  sugar  cane  and  potatoes,  with  two 
mules  ;  have  plowed  the  entire  crop  over  four  times,  and  have  a 
better  prospect  for  a  crop  than  any  year  previous,  although  I 
have  only  spent  $75  for  guano  to  put  to  corn  and  cotton. 

There  is  a  market  right  at  the  door  for  everything  that  the 
farm  raises,  as  over  half  the  people  are  engaged  in  sawing  lumber 
or  cutting  timber  from  the  fine  yellow-pine  forest,  which  is  equaled 
by  none  in  the  United  States.  The  land  is  easy  to  clear;  nothing  to 
do  but  to  chop  around  the  trees,  cut  up,  pile,  and  burn  the  logs, 
build  a  fence,  and  go  to  plowing.  The  land  is  well  adapted  to 
raising  corn,  cotton,  sugar  cane,  oats,  potatoes,  peaiauts,  and  all 
kinds  of  vegetables ;  and  all  it  lacks  is  plenty  of  good,  industri- 
ous, honest  people,  to  make  it  the  best  poor  man's  country  in 
the  world,  as  they  can  get  houses  here  so  very  cheap  that  any 
industrious  man  can  soon  pay  for  it  and  make. a  good  living  and 
to  spare.  While  there  is  a  good  chance  for  capitalists  to  invest 
in  pine-timbered  lands  and  develop  the  same,  it  is  also  a  good 
stock  raising  country,  especially  for  sheep,  as  they  do  well  all 
winter  without  being  fed  at  all.  Colts  do  well  most  of  the  year, 
and  keep  pretty  fat  upon  the  range,  and  will  live  through  the 
winter  without  being  fed  at  all,  but  get  very  poor.  Hogs  can  be 
raised  here  as  cheap  as  anywhere,  but  have  to  be  fed  if  they 
grow  large.  Very  respectfully,  etc., 

JOHN  W.  GRIFFIN.  - 


The  following  letter  from  Mr.  Clemens — written  for  other  par- 
ties— is  the  more  important,  as  he  used  no  fertilizers.  In  truth, 
with  improved  plows  and  tools,  good  seeds,  and  improved  modes 
of  cultivation,  this  land  could  be  made  to  do  much  better. 

LETTER  OF  JACOB  A.  CLEMENS,  ESQ. 

Lot  No.  135,  8th  District,  Telfair  Co.,  Ga.,  Dec.  13,  1869. 
DEAR  SIR: 

In  reply  to  your  questions  relating  to  the  quality  of  soil  and 
the  products  of  my  plantation,  I  will  make  the  following  state- 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  69 

ment.     It  has  no  better  soil  than  the  average  quality  of  the  pine 
wood  soil  of  this  part  of  Georgia. 
My  average  crops  are  as  follows  : 

Corn,  shelled, 20  to  30  bushels  per  acre. 

Sweet  potatoes,  ......  200  to  300     " 

Ginned  cotton, 400  to  500  pounds      " 

Peanuts, 20  bushels       " 

Cane  syrup, 400  gallons       " 

One  man  and  a  boy,  with  a  mule,  usually  cultivate  thirty  acres 
of  this  land.  I  also  raise  as  fine  Irish  potatoes,  turnips,  beets, 
peas,  and  oats  as  I  ever  saw  grown  anywhere ;  in  fact,  this  is  just 
the  place  for  all  kinds  of  garden  vegetables,  and  a  great  variety  of 
fruits.  I  herewith  send  samples  of  corn,  cotton,  and  potatoes 
raised  this  year.  Respectfully  yours, 

.  JACOB  A.  CLEMENS. 


Near  Douglas,  Coffee  Co.,  Ga., 

August  7,  1876. 
MR.  H.  M.  DRANE, 

G.  T.  &  P.  Agent. 

Dear  Sir:  Yours  of  July  17,  asking  information  in  regard  to 
sheep-raising  in  this  section  of  Georgia,  is  to  hand.  Will  answer: 
First,  we  clip  about  3^  pounds  per  head  of  wool,  per  sheep  ; 
price  of  ewes  is  $2,  the  lambs  $1.50  per  head  ;  mutton  sheep,  $2 
per  head.  As  for  the  produce  from  the  fold,  we  realize  nothing,  as 
we  never  put  them  in  fold  at  all  only  while  we  are  shearing,  as  we 
let  them  roam  at  large  over  a  large  section  of  country.  A  dry,  hilly, 
broken  country  suits  them  best.  Very  seldom  there  is  any  dis- 
ease among  sheep  in  this  country.  Sometimes  a  few  have  sore 
heads,  which  is  easily  cured  by  the  use  of  tar,  grease  and  sulphur. 
The  cost  to  maintain  sheep  is  nothing  as  to  feeding.  We  use 
large  woods  pasture.  Sometimes  we  fence  the  ewes  and  lambs 
when  very  young,  to  protect  the  lambs  from  the  ravages  of  hogs. 
I  have  about  2,000  head,  the  profit  of  which  is  about  $2,500  a  year. 
The  greatest  trouble  is  gathering  to  shear  and  mark  the  lambs. 
Any  other  information  will  be  given  at  any  time. 

Very  respectfully, 

HENRY  PETERSON. 


70  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

Copy  of  Letter  Written  by  J.  W.  Sheldon  to  Friends  in  New  York. 

Eastman,  Dodge  Co.,  Ga.,  January  9,  1876. 
Dear  Sir : 

On  the  I5th  of  December,  1875,  I  started  with  my  family  from 
Rockland,  county,  New  York,  for  Augusta,  Ga.,  but  on  the  steamer 
Magnolia,  en  route  for  Savannah,  I  made  the  acquaintance  of  Mr. 
Henry  Niemann,  a  German  gentleman,  going  to  Eastman,  Dodge 
county,  Ga.,  to  make  arrangements  for  settling  a  colony  upon  a 
tract  of  land  lying  mostly  in  that  county,  and  known  as  the  lands 
of  the  Georgia  Land  and  Lumber  Company.  The  lands  are  em- 
braced by  the  Ocmulgee  and  Oconee  rivers,  and  is  nearly  bisected 
by  the  Macon  and  Brunswick  Railroad.  This  tract  of  land,  Mr. 
Niemann  assured  me,  upon  good  authority,  was  fine  rolling  land, 
and  covered  mostly  with  the  long-leaf  yellow  pine ;  was  in  as 
healthy  a  location  as  could  be  found  in  Georgia,  and  possessed  as 
many  advantages  for  the  settlers  as  any  location  to  be  found  any- 
where in  the  State.  He  told  me  that  if  I  would  go  with  him 
to  Eastman,  he  would  guarantee  me  a  house  to  live  in  and 
good  society,  with  every  advantage  he  could  render  me  when 
there.  After  consulting  my  family,  we  concluded  to  go,  and  so 
became  the  first  family  in  his  colony.  We  arrived  in  Eastman 
December  24th,  and  got  our  house,  and  found  everything  as  good 
as  it  had  been  recommended  to  us,  and  many  better  than  we 
looked  for. 

The  country  about  Eastman  lies  as  fine  for  agricultural  pur- 
poses as  any  land  could,  just  rolling  enough  for  natural  drainage 
and  not  enough  to  be  broken.  The  soil,  like  most  yellow  pine 
lands,  is  sandy,  and  at  first  view  appears  to  be  too  much  so,  but 
the  whole  region  is  underlaid  with  a  clay  subsoil,  rendering  it 
impossible  for  the  land  to  leach,  and  enabling  the  farmer  to  bring 
his  land  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  while  the  sand  renders  the 
soil  light  and  warm,  also  easily  cultivated  at  once  after  rain  with- 
out injuring  it,  as  in  clay  soil.  Cotton,  sugar-cane,  corn,  oats, 
sweet  potatoes,  and  melons  grow  here  luxuriantly.  The  water  of 
this  region  is  pure  and  as  soft  as  warm  water,  obtained  easily  by 
digging  from  20  to  30  feet  in  the  clay,  and  the  clay  is  of  that  nature 
that  the  well  requires  no  walling,  as  the  clay  will  not  cave,  but 
stands  for  any  length  of  time  firm  as  a  brick  wall.  The  climate 
since  I  came  has  been  delightful,  and  I  am  assured  by  the  people 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  71 

of  the  place  that  it  is  a  splendid  climate,  equal  in  every  way  tD 
any  in  the  United  States.  The  people  here  can  have  their  garden 
vegetables  fresh  from  the  garden  any  day  in  the  year  without 
housing  them.  The  lumber  of  this  region  is  as  good  for  building 
purposes  as  ever  need  be,  and  is  worth  on  an  average  about 
$9  per  thousand  feet,  thus  enabling  settlers  to  build  cheap,  good 
buildings.  Grass  grows  all  through  the  woods  in  this  part  of  the 
State,  and  while  it  is  not  like  the  Northern  tame  grass,  it  is  good 
for  cattle  and  sheep,  and  sheep  especially  can  be  kept  to  great 
profit  and  in  great  quantities.  Any  one  wishing  to  confer  with 
Mr.  Henry  Niemann  can  do  so  by  addressing  him  in  person  or 
by  letter  at  294  Broadway,  room  13,  New  York.  I  cheerfully 
recommend  him  as  an  honest,  careful  business  man,  of  good 
judgment,  warm-hearted  and  sympathetic. 

J.  W.  SHELDON, 
Formerly  of  Tompkin's  Cove,  N.  Y. 


Copy  of  Letter  from  J.    W.  Sheldon  to  Friends  in  New   York. 

Eastmart,  Dodge  Co.,  Ga.,  July  26,  1876. 
Dear  Sir : 

A  little  over  seven  months  ago,  I  came  to  Dodge  county,  Ga. , 
and  have  consequently  witnessed  a  greater  part  of  winter,  all 
of  the  spring,  and  am  now  witnessing  the  hot  season,  and  can 
truly  say  that  this  is  by  far  the  finest  climate  I  have  ever  found) 
after  having  lived  in  seventeen  States  of  this  Union.  The  winter 
and  spring  here  are  so  mild  and  pleasant  and  so  healthy  that 
both  man  and  beast  can  fully  enjoy  life,  instead  of  simply  endur- 
ing it,  as  they  do  much  of  this  part  of  the  year  at  the  North.  The 
summer  or  heated  term  is  longer,  and  in  this  region  the  hot 
weather  is  more  constant  than  in  New  York,  New  Jersey  or  Penn- 
sylvania, but  the  degree  of  heat  is  not  so  high,  and  the  lassitude 
produced  not  so  great.  There  is  almost  always  a  breeze  which 
so  tempers  the  heat  of  the  sun  that  sun-stroke  is  a  thing  scarcely 
known  in  that  region.  I  have  worked  constantly  in  the  open 
air  for  three  months  past,  exposed  to  the  full  heat  of  the  sun,  and 
can  say  in  truth  that  I  have  not  experienced  any  more  inconve- 
nience from  heat  than  I  have  done  during  the  same  part  of  the 
year  in  New  York,  Ohio,  Illinois,  or  Missouri.  I  am  disappointed 
in  the  crops  of  this  region,  but  the  disappointment  is  a  happy 


72  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

one.  I  see  good  crops  on  land  which  has  had  no  fertilizing  for 
years  and  very  poorly  cultivated,  while  on  lands  fertilized  and 
well  cultivated  the  crops  are  remunerative  to  a  degree  I  had  not 
expected.  The  lands  in  Dodge  county  are  easily  worked,  and 
after  they  are  cleared  and  properly  cultivated  can  be  made  to  pay  a 
better  per  cent,  on  the  cost  of  land  and  cultivation  than  any  other 
region  I  know  of,  either  North  or  West.  However,  this  region  is 
not  one  where  a  man  may  sit  down  and  fare  sumptuously  on  the 
bread  of  idleness.  Industry  and  economy  are  necessary  to  suc- 
cess here  as  elsewhere,  only  they  pay  a  larger  per  cent,  than  else- 
where. Finally,  to  sum  up,  we  have  in  this  part  of  Georgia  as 
delightful  a  climate  for  nine  months  in  the  year  as  is  had  in  any 
part  of  the  United  States,  and  can  get  a  good  living  for  as  little 
wear  and  tear  as  can  be  had  in  any  other  part  of  our  country. 
Come  and  try  it,  all  who  want  a  good  home  in  a  good  place. 

Respectfully, 

J.  W.  SHELDON. 


.Eastman,  Ga.,  July  19,  1876, 
COL.  HENRY  M.  DRANE, 

G.  P.  &  T.  Agent, 

Macon,  Ga. 

Dear  Sir:  I  have  lived  in  this  vicinity  for  forty-seven  years, 
and  twenty-five  of  that  number  have  been  devoted  to  the  practice 
of  medicine,  and,  in  my  opinion,  it  is  one  of  the  healthiest  coun- 
tries to  be  found  anywhere.  The  climate  is  salubrious,  having 
very  few  sudden  changes.  Is  free  from  causes  which  produce 
violent  and  dangerous  attacks  of  sickness.  Those  who  are  vic- 
tims of  lung  or  throat  disease  would  be  greatly  benefited  by  a 
residence  here,  and  perhaps  our  mild  climate  would  afford  them 
a  final  cure.  The  types  of  disease  common  to  this  country  are 
mild  and  easily  controlled,  and  it  is  entirely  free  from  epidemics 
of  a  serious  nature.  Formerly,  little  attention  was  given  to  agri- 
culture, but  of  late  years  it  has  become  an  industry  of  much 
value.  The  soil  is  very  productive.  Vegetables  grow  in  abund- 
ance both  winter  and  summer.  For  sheep  and  cattle  raising  it 
is  not  surpassed  in  the  Southern  States.  They  increase  rapidly, 
and  support  themselves  upon  the  natural  grasses  which  cover  the 
entire  woods.  The  fleece  of  the  sheep  is  free  from  all  burs  and 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  73 

quite  large.  They  receive  but  little  attention,  yet  yield  a  hand- 
some profit  The  water  is  cool  and  wholesome — free  from  lime- 
stone and  all  other  impurities.  The  people  are  social  and  hospi- 
table, showing-  great  kindness  to  strangers,  and  generally,  the 
morals  of  the  country  are  very  good.  Those  who  have  worked 
have  shown  signs  of  great  prosperity,  and  offer  open  hands  and 
hearts  to  any  who  wish  to  join  them  in  developing  the  resources 
of  this  favored  land. 

I  am,  respectfully  yours, 

JAMES  M.  BUCHAN,  M.  D. 


DOUGHERTY  COUNTY. 

You  ask  for  my  experience  as  an  immigrant.  I  must  say  that 
it  has  been  very  pleasant  both  socially  and  politically  ;  and  as  for 
health,  I  could  not  have  found  a  more  favorable  climate.  I  am  a 
farmer,  and  I  think  as  an  agricultural  State,  Georgia,  and  particu- 
larly the  southern  part  of  it,  is  more  favored  both  in  soil  and  cli- 
mate than  almost  any  other  section  of  America.  One  great  ad- 
vantage to  immigrants  is  that  we  have  every  facility  in  the  way  of 
cheap  transportation,  by  rail  and  by  water.  The  productions  of  the 
soil  are  almost  unlimited  in  variety  and  amount.  Still,  there  is 
room  for  choice  in  selecting  lands,  and  one  should  not  be  too 
hasty  in  selling.  The  best  time  to  visit  this  country  is  from  Sep- 
tember to  June,  for  then  you  see  the  State  at  its  best  and  worst. 
Lands  from  $3  to  $8  per  acre.  Taxes  very  low.  Stock  of  all 
kinds  are  raised  here,  and  it  is  a  great  fruit  country.  I  came  from 
Maine  in  1869.  F.  L.  BRIDGE,  Albany,  Ga. 

I  immigrated  from  England  to  Georgia  in  1878,  and  am  en- 
gaged as  a  clerk.  My  family  and  I  have  suffered  less  from  heat 
than  in  Massachusetts. 

The  soil  is  a  sandy  loam,  capable  of  a  high  degree  of  improve- 
ment. Have  had  better  health  than  in  Massachusetts.  Society 
is  good,  and  I  consider  life  and  property  as  safe  as  in  the  North- 
ern States.  The  feeling  toward  immigrants  is  all  that  could  be 
desired.  The  white  people  gladly  welcome  settlers  from  the  other 
States,  and  give  them  every  assistance  in  their  power.  Too  much 


74  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

praise  cannot  be  awarded  them.  Land  is  very  low — much  below 
its  actual  value.  One  or  two  farms  adjoining  me  are  for  sale  at  a 
price  much  less  than  the  cost  of  improvement  thereon.  The 
profits  in  good  seasons  will  almost  pay  for  a  farm.  A  much  better 
opportunity  is  offered  immigrants  here  than  at  the  West. 

THOS.  KIRKE,  Albany,  Ga. 


LOWNDES  COUNTY. 

New  Jersey  is  my  native  State,  whence  I  came  to  Georgia  in 
1969,  and  engaged  in  farming  and  lumbering.  The  climate  is 
healthy,  if  the  diet  be  suited  to  the  latitude,  as  is  proven  by  the 
fact  that  the  people  are  able  to  live  on  corn  bread,  bacon,  coffee, 
and  syrup.  It  is  not  so  hot  as  the  Middle  States  in  summer. 
The  natural  soil  is  much  better,  but  does  not  retain  manure  so 
well,  on  account  of  evaporation  in  winter.  It  is  easier  to  work, 
being  free  from  stones.  I  have  raised  16%  bushels  of  Irish  po- 
tatoes on  one-twentieth  of  an  acre.  The  second  crop  yields  well, 
if  of  an  early  variety,  furnishing  a  supply  during  the  year.  Not 
good  for  fruit,  except  figs,  grapes  and  pears. 

Horned  cattle  can  be  raised  at  one-fifth  the  expense  required  in 
the  Middle  States,  requiring  but  a  very  small  amount  of  nutritious 
food  in  winter,  when  the  grass  is  tough.  Life  and  property  are  as 
safe  as  in  any  country  of  mixed  races.  Negroes  here,  as  else- 
where, are  given  to  pilfering.  Whites  are  easily  angered,  but  not 
revengeful.  Settlers  are  treated  with  kindness,  both  in  social  and 
business  circles.  Lands  worth  $5  per  acre  here  would  sell  for  $50 
in  New  York,  Pennsylvania  or  New  Jersey. 

L.  A.  HAYNES,  Valdosta,  Ga. 


THOMAS  COUNTY. 

My  original  profession  was  that  of  a  confectioner,  but  for  the 
last  ten  years  I  have  been  engaged  in  growing  fruits,  having  come 
to  this  State  in  1860.  There  is  but  little  inducement  for  mechan- 
ics to  settle  here,  because  everything  that  can  be  made  abroad  is 
brought  here  for  sale. 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  75 

The  climate  is  all  that  could  be  desired.  The  soil  is  of  varied 
character,  light  soils  predominating,  but  all  produce  well  with  a 
moderate  use  of  manures.  The  productions  include  about  all 
those  of  the  temperate  and  semi-tropical  zones.  The  health  and 
physical  development  of  the  people  are  specially  good,  and  I  find 
that  foreigners  here  enjoy  permanent  good  health.  This  is  the 
general  rule  with  all  those  who  retain  their  old  habits  of  using 
lighter  food  and  drink  than  are  here  commonly  used.  The  con- 
dition of  society  here  is  very  good.  The  foreign  immigrant 
would  perhaps  miss  the  jovial  festivals  he  had  so  often  enjoyed 
in  his  old  home. 

Ten  years  ago,  when  I  brought  here  two  Swiss  families,  the 
head  of  one,  shortly  after  their  arrival,  exclaimed :  "  My  God ! 
can  you  let  your  hogs  run  about  as  they  do  without  their  being 
stolen?"  Even  my  tempting  fruits  are  not  trespassed  upon  by  the 
boys  here  in  town. 

Taxes  are  very  light  compared  to  elsewhere.  Very  kind  feel- 
ings are  manifested  towards  the  immigrant  who  settles  here  as  a 
worker  and  not  as  an  agitator.  His  standing  in  society  will  be 
equal  to  his  reasonable  expectations,  here  or  elsewhere. 

JOHN  STARK,  Thomasville,  Ga. 


I  am  a  native  of  the  United  States  (North);  settled  in  Thomas- 
ville in  1873.  Am  a  minister  of  the  Gospel.  The  inducements 
for  immigration  are  reasonably  good.  The  climate  is  delightful ; 
the  soil,  though  not  naturally  rich,  is  easy  of  improvement.  Pro- 
ductions, cotton,  corn,  oats,  wheat,  rye,  rice,  flax,  broom-corn, 
sugar-cane,  sweet  and  Irish  potatoes,  strawberries,  pears,  peaches, 
grapes,  etc.  General  healthfulness  excellent.  Condition  of  soci- 
ety and  safety  to  life  and  property  good.  There  is  a  great  desire 
for  immigrants,  and  they  are  kindly  treated.  Lands  are  low  in 
price,  and  profits  of  farming  remunerative.  Wise  investments 
in  farming  lands,  with  suitable  management,  yield  a  handsome 
profit,  despite  the  expensive  transportation,  which  in  some  cases 
is  ruinous,  and  in  all  a  serious  drawback. 

JAMES  A.  McKEE,  Thomasville,  Ga. 

[A  letter  containing  substantially  the  same  representations  as 
the  foregoing,  was  received  from  Mr.  Fay  Hirshinger,  a  native 
of  Germany,  now  merchandising  in  Thomasville.] 


76  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

WORTH  COUNTY. 

My  native  country  is  England,  whence  I  came  in  1856  to  Irwin 
county.  Have  followed  school  teaching  and  planting.  Men  with 
small  capital  can  do  more  and  better  here  than  anwyhere  I  know 
of.  Good  teachers  make  a  living.  Climate  is  good,  soil  various, 
but  all  will  remunerate  labor  properly  directed.  Productions  are 
corn,  cotton,  potatoes,  etc.,  etc.  Fruits  and  vegetables  in  abund- 
ance. Health  good,  society  coarse,  but  honest.  Life  and  prop- 
erty are  safe.  Taxes  light.  Treatment  of  strangers  is  very  kind 
and  hospitable.  Land  is  cheaper  in  this  section,  according  to 
quality,  than  anywhere  else. 

E.  COURTOY,  Isabella,  Ga. 


I  came  from  Ohio  to  Georgia  in  the  month  of  December,  1872, 
and  have  been  engaged  in  farming  ever  since.  I  made  two  crops 
in  Fulton  county,  and  one  in  Fayette  county.  From  thence  I 
moved  to  Worth  county,  where  I  have  purchased  a  lot  of  land 
and  established  a  permanent  home,  having  my  second  crop  about 
ready  to  "lay  by."  I  am  satisfied  that  I  can  make  farming  prof- 
itable here,  simply  by  leaving  off  guano  and  manufacturing  my 
own  manure.  The  climate  surpasses  that  of  any  other  country  I 
ever  saw.  The  winters  are  mild,  and  I  have  suffered  much  less 
from  heat  in  the  summer  season  than  in  Ohio.  The  soil,  in 
places,  is  sandy,  while  other  places  are  pebbly  and  solid,  and  pro- 
duces well  by  using  but  a  trifle  of  manure.  The  production  of 
this  country  is  about  the  same  as  that  of  Ohio,  with  the  addition 
of  much  that  cannot  be  raised  in  that  State.  This  country  is  very 
healthy,  except  malarial  diseases  about  the  watercourses ;  society 
is  about  the  same  as  in  Ohio ;  so  is  the  security  of  life  and  prop- 
erty. Taxes  are  no  higher  here  than  in  any  other  country.  The 
feeling  and  treatment  manifested  towards  me,  wherever  I  have 
lived  in  this  State,  have  been  nothing  but  friendship  and  kindness. 
Lands  here  rate  from  50  cents  to  $3  per  acre.  Thousands  of  acres 
of  unimproved  lands  in  this  county  can  be  bought  at  50  cents  per 
acre,  much  better  and  more  profitable  to  farmers  than  lands  in 
Ohio  and  elsewhere  for  which  you  have  to  pay  from  $40  to  $50 
per  acre.  JOHN  MYGRANT,  Warwick,  Ga. 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  77 

PULASKI  COUNTY. 

I  immigrated  from  Massachusetts,  my  native  State,  to  Georgia 
in  1877,  and  have  been  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  and 
in  farming,  almost  exclusively  the  latter  the  last  year.  Although 
the  methods  of  farming  here  are  different  from  what  I  have  been 
accustomed  to,  yet  such  information  was  readily  obtained  as 
enabled  me  to  make  with  three  plows  24  bales  of  cotton,  700  to 
800  bushels  of  corn,  and  a  good  crop  of  peas.  Labor — the 
main  factor  here — requires  more  study  than  any  of  the  elements 
of  successful  farming.  My  observation,  thus  far,  teaches  me  that 
by  personal  attention  to  business,  by  patience  and  strict  justice 
and  fair  dealing  towards  employees,  the  mutual  interests  of  both 
white  and  colored  people  may  be  promoted  and  prosperity  se- 
cured. 

For  three  months  of  the  year — July,  August  and  September — 
the  weather  is  very  warm,  though  the  thermometer  seldom  rises 
above  90  or  95  degrees  ia  the  shade.  During  the  remaining 
months  the  climate  is  delightful.  Although  not  much  of  the  soil 
is  naturally  rich,  yet  it  is  easily  worked,  and  by  intelligent  culti- 
vation, produces  profitable  crops.  It  is  mostly  sandy  upon  a 
subsoil  of  stiff  clay.  The  forest  growth  is  chiefly  pine  and  oak, 
though  there  are  many  other  species.  The  staple  products  are 
cotton,  corn,  oats,  sugar  cane  and  sweet  potatoes,  with  a  great 
variety  of  garden  vegetables.  Peaches,  sand  pears,  grapes,  plums, 
strawberries,  etc.,  can  be  raised  in  abundance.  One  party  here 
made  1,200  gallons  of  wine  from  three  acres  of  Concord  and 
Delaware  grapes — the  fourth  season  after  setting. 

Any  industrious,  sober  man,  with  a  small  capital,  by  accommo- 
dating himself  to  the  methods  of  farming  suited  to  this  region 
(a  matter  not  at  all  difficult),  is  almost  sure  to  "get  on"  here ;  and 
in  a  few  years,  if  he  proves  himself  trustworthy,  can  work  him- 
self up  to  actual  ownership  and  independence. 

B.  F.  PURSONS,  Hawkinsville,  Ga. 


78  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 


LETTERS  FROM  ACTUAL  SETTLERS. 


BRYAN  COUNTY. 

I  came  to  this  county  from  the  North  in  1850.  The  climate 
hero  is  delightful,  and  the  soil  unsurpassed  for  rice,  corn,  peas, 
cotton,  potatoes.  As  to  health,  there  is  some  fever  on  the  river, 
but  very  healthy  away  from  it. 

The  condition  of  society  is  good,  and  there  are  few  disorderly 
persons  in  the  part  of  the  county  where  I  live.  Taxes  are  mod- 
erate, and  life  and  property  are  as  secure  as  anywhere  in  the 
Union.  I  think  good  immigrants  would  be  very  favorably  re- 
ceived. The  profits  of  rice  culture  are  large,  except  when  the 
crop  is  injured  by  storms,  which  are  liable  to  occur  in  the  river 
bottoms.  GEO.  LYMAN,  Appleton,  i^  A.  &  G.  R.  R. 


I  am  a  native  of  Massachusetts ;  lived  three  years  in  New  York 
State  and  two  in  Connecticut ;  settled  in  Bryan  county,  Ga ,  in 
1867.  I  am  a  teacher  and  farmer.  If  money  is  the  object,  school 
teaching  is  not  a  success — though  we  need  teachers,  but  farming 
pays.  Timber — Cyprus,  black  gum,  sweet  gum,  and  especially 
pine — is  abundant,  and  might  be  utilized  in  the  manufacture  of 
boxes  and  measures.  The  climate  is  delightful,  and  I  think  I  owe 
my  life  to  it,  for  I  came  here  a  consumptive  and  am  cured  with- 
out medicine.  The  pine  land  is  light  and  poor,  but  yields  ample 
returns  when  fertilizers  are  applied.  A  great  deal  of  swamp  land 
not  yet  under  cultivation  is  very  rich,  and  will  be  reclaimed  in 
time.  The  leading  farm  crops  are  cotton,  rice,  sweet  potatoes, 
sugar-cane,  corn,  oats,  peas,  chufas.  Have  been  married  twelve 
years  ;  have  six  children.  None  of  u§  have  been  sick  for  a  day  . 
had  no  occasion  to  call  a  doctor.  The  people  are  moral  and  gen- 
erally religious;  very  few  atheists,  deists  or  sceptics.  A  fine 
opening  for  preachers  and  teachers  who  don't  want  much  money 
for  their  services.  I  believe  that  life  and  property  are  as  safe  here 
as  anywhere.  The  people  are  law-abiding.  Taxes  very  low — 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  79 

only  one  per  cent,  including  State  and  county.  The  feeling  is 
very  kind  towards  immigrants ;  the  people  are  more  anxious  for 
immigration  than  the  older  States.  Land  will  average  about  $i 
per  acre,  and  is  capable  of  a  high  degree  of  improvement  by 
proper  use  of  fertilizers,  at  a  much  less  cost  than  the  soil  in  New 
York,  Massachusetts  or  Connecticut. 


CAMDEN  COUNTY. 

I  am  a  native  of  New  York  State ;  did  mercantile  business  for 
twenty  years  at  Waverly,  Tioga  county,  in  that  State ;  came  to 
Georgia  for  my  health  in  1869.  Since  my  residence  here — nearly 
ten  years — myself  and  family  have  enjoyed  uninterrupted  health, 
winter  and  summer.  From  my  experience  and  observation,  I  be- 
lieve the  climate  of  the  southern  coast  of  Georgia  cannot  be  sur- 
passed for  health  and  comfort  during  the  entire  year. 

The  soil,  with  proper  culture,  will  produce  every  variety  of  veg- 
etables, and  is  most  grateful  for  kind  treatment.  Even  with  infe- 
rior cultivation  the  soil  yields  a  return  that  could  not  be  realized  in 
the  most  favored  locality  in  the  North,  under  the  same  treatment. 
For  growing  the  orange,  or  any  other  semi-tropical  fruit  grown 
in  Florida  (north  of  the  frost  line),  the  southern  coast  of  Georgia 
for  sixty  miles  has  advantages  over  the  orange  district  one  hun- 
dred miles  south.  The  orange  tree  is  more  hardy,  less  liable  to 
injury  from  cold,  and  the  fruit  has  a  thinner  skin  and  higher  flavor. 
I  have  1,500  trees.  Not  a  single  year-old  seedling  killed  by  the 
cold  last  January,  while  the  trees  in  Central  and  Middle  Florida 
suffered  serious  injury.  Farm  crops  successfully  grown  are  cot- 
ton, corn,  sugar-cane,  sorghum,  peas  and  beans,  Irish  and  sweet 
potatoes,  oats,  rye,  etc. 

This  region  is  far  more  healthy  than  any  section  of  the  North 
or  West  with  which  I  am  acquainted,  and  we  have  at  St.  Mary's 
as  peaceable  and  law-abiding  class  of  people — white  and  black — 
as  can  be  found  in  any  section.  So  far  as  I  have  seen,  there  is 
less  sectional  feeling  in  the  South  than  in  the  North,  and  I  have 
never  had  any  fear  of  personal  violence  to  myself,  family  or  to 
any  Northern  man  who  may  desire  to  settle  in  Georgia.  For 
nearly  ten  years  that  I  have  lived  South,  I  have,  without  excep- 
tion, received  the  kindest  treatment  and  evidences  of  good  will. 


80  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

The  men  who  now  represent  the  condition  of  society  at  the 
South  to  be  such  as  should  deter  a  Northern  man  from  settling 
here  are  enemies  to  the  poor — white  and  black — North  and  South. 
Such  men,  who  still  appeal  to  the  passions,  were  not  clothed  in 
blue  or  gray  (during  the  civil  strife)  for  honest  purposes  ;  if  wear- 
ing either  color  they  were  the  home  guards — or  men  seeking 
some  personal  benefit  or  political  position.  I  have  no  doubt  the 
persistent  misrepresentations  of  the  Southern  people  have  de- 
terred many  good  men  from  seeking  homes  in  the  South,  who, 
could  they  have  known  the  truth,  would  now  be  in  the  posses- 
sion and  enjoyment  of  free  and  independent  homes  in  the  South, 
freed  from  the  anxieties  of  their  present  condition  North. 

Taxes  in  Pennsylvania  and  New  York — where  I  have  real  es- 
tate interests — are  as  four  to  one  in  Georgia.  In  Georgia,  taxes 
are  low  on  a  low  valuation  —in  the  North  they  are  high  on  a  high 
valuation. 

If  all  Georgians  would  work  for  Georgia  as  the  Floridians  work 
for  Florida,  the  population  would  be  doubled  in  ten  years. 

In  my  opinion  there  is  no  State  in  the  Union  that  has  the  un- 
developed wealth  of  Georgia.  Every  variety  of  fruit  and  grain 
grown  in  the  United  States  can  be  successfully  grown  in  Georgia; 
its  mineral  wealth  is  very  great,  and  its  advantages  for  manufac- 
turing everything  useful  are  unsurpassed.  Every  variety  of  cli- 
mate, from  the  balmy  air  of  its  southern  coast,  to  its  mountains 
and  snow  of  winter  in  the  northern  portion. 

I  am  proud  of  my  native  State,  New  York,  but  equally  as  much 
interested  in  the  prosperity  and  full  development  of  my  adopted 

State  South. 

SILAS  FORDHAM, 

St.  Mary's,  Camden  county,  Ga. 

[Very  interesting  letters  were  also  received  from  Mr.  Joseph 
Sheppard,  St.  Mary's,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania;  Mr.  Richard 
Really,  St.  Mary's,  from  England ;  and  Mr.  W.  A.  White,  St^ 
Mary's,  from  Connecticut.  The  above  covers  the  points  fully } 
and  is  concurred  in  by  the  others.] 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  8 1 

GLYNN  COUNTY. 

I  am  a  lineal  decendant  of  the  seventh  generation  of  Elder 
Wm.  Brewster,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  have  resided  here 
about  ten  years.  I  was  educated  a  physician.  Persons  of 
various  professions  have  visited  and  done  business  in  our  county 
and  those  adjoining,  and  are  now  settled  and  doing  business  here, 
apparently  for  life. 

According  to  my  knowledge  and  information,  the  inducements 
for  immigration  are  fully  equal  to  those  of  any  quarter  of  the 
globe,  and  surpass  those  of  most  localities.  The  social  condition 
is  better  than  it  is  at  the  North.  Better  feeling  prevails  toward 
the  North  than  is  reciprocated.  The  South  is  more  humble, 
which  insures  God's  blessing. 

F.  A.  BREWSTER,  M.  D.,  Brunswick,  Ga. 


Massachusetts  is  my  native  State.  I  came  here  in  1865,  and 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  yellow  pine  lumber.  My  "pro- 
fession" is  pretty  well  filled  up  now.  .  This  section  offers  induce- 
ments to  farmers,  and  especially  to  stock  growing.  The  climate 
is  superior  to  that  of  Massachusetts,  take  it  the  year  round.  The 
soil,  with  care,  is  very  productive  of  corn,  cotton,  vegetables  and 
fruits  of  all  kinds — bananas,  olives,  etc.,  wheat  and  all  cereals. 
Health  is  good  where  the  country  is  properly  drained  so  that  no 
stagnant  ponds  are  near.  This  low,  flat  section  must  have  drain- 
age to  insure  health.  The  condition  of  society  is  every  way 
satisfactory,  and  life  is  secure  as  anywhere.  Taxes  (local  city) 
are  moderately  heavy — owing  to  extravagance  of  officials  and 
unsatisfactory  political  condition  after  reconstruction,  while  under 
the  temporary  control  of  the  negroes.  The  people  are  very  kind 
to  immigrants,  and  their  social  treatment  is  unexceptionable. 
Land  is  very  cheap,  and  good  farms  are  readily  obtainable. 

WARREN  A.  FULLER,  Brunswick,  Ga. 

[Reference  is  also  made  to  Jno.  R.  Cook,  Brunswick,  Ga., 
from  whom  a  letter  was  received.] 


82  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

LIBERTY  COUNTY. 

It  gives  me  pleasure  to  answer  your  questions.  I  was  born  in 
Rhode  Island,  and  came  here  last  December  with  my  uncle,  Mr. 
Coe.  Am  a  farmer,  and  consider  this  the  best  place  for  a  young 
farmer  with  small  capital,  on  account  of  the  cheapness  of  land 
small  cost  of  living  and  good  prices  for  farm  produce.  The 
climate  is  healthy ;  have  never  been  so  well  as  since  I  came  here. 
The  soil  looks  good — time  will  tell  how  good.  Rice,  corn  and 
cotton  are  the  principal  crops.  Mine  is  all  rice.  Society  is 
refined  and  agreeable,  but  very  few  white  people  in  this  section. 
It  is  perfectly  safe  for  any  honest  man,  white  or  black,  to  live 
here.  I  was  cordially  received,  and  all  express  a  desire  for  set- 
tiers  to  come  and  "occupy  the  land."  Land  is  worth  from  $1.00 
to  $5.00  per  acre. 

G.  A.  BAILEY,  Dorchester,  Ga. 


Not  having  been  in  Georgia  a  sufficient  time  to  answer  all  your 
questions,  I  will  confine  myself  to  those  which  do  not  require 
length  of  time  for  solution.  I  am  a  farmer,  came  from  New 
England  in  1878.  The  inducements  most  noticeable  to  a  new- 
comer are  cheap  lands  for  farming  and  grazing.  From  my  brief 
experience,  I  consider  the  climate  very  healthy  and  enjoyable, 
and  my  life  as  safe  here  as  in  any  place  in  our  country.  Think 
the  freedmen  are  not  so  well  able  to  withstand  the  temptation  to 
steal  as  those  who  have  had  better  opportunities  for  moral 
education. 

The  feeling  manifested  towards  me  has  been  most  kind  and 
cordial — far  more  so  than  I  had  any  right  to  expect.  Found  a 
hearty  welcome  everywhere. 

I  cannot  refrain  from  saying  that,  in  my  estimation,  there  is  no 
part  of  our  country  that  possesses  superior  conditions  for  suc- 
cessful enterprise  in  any  branch  of  farming,  whether  it  be  stock 
raising,  farming  proper  or  fruit  growing. 

JAS.  COE,  Dorchester,  Ga. 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  83 

WAYNE  COUNTY. 

Am  a  native  of  New  York;  came  herein  1869,  and  engaged 
in  merchandising.  If  goods  are  sold  strictly  for  cash,  I  know  of 
no  better  opening  for  well-posted  business  men  than  in  Southeast 
Georgia.  Little  farming  done  in  this  immediate  neighborhood, 
thottgh  climate  and  soil  favor  the  production  of  cotton,  rice,  corn, 
oats,  sugar  cane  and  sweet  potatoes.  Soil  in  this  county  sandy, 
with  clay  subsoil.  Crops  are  two  or  three  weeks  ahead  of  those 
across  the  river,  in  Liberty  county  (which  is  much  lower  than 
Wayne,  but  the  richest  and  finest  county  in  Southeast  Georgia). 
Fruits  grow  in  profusion  and  of  elegant  quality.  This  is  as 
healthy  a  section  as  I  ever  lived  in,  and  that  covers  a  close 
acquaintance  and  sojourn  in  every  State  this  side  of  Oregon  and 
California.  There  are  malarial  fevers  at  times,  but  they  readily 
succumb  to  ordinary  remedies,  and  there  is  nothing  of  malignant 
type.  Of  the  condition  of  society,  can  say  nothing  in  its  favor, 
but  the  adjoining  county  of  Liberty  has  a  splendid  class  of  people, 
noted  for  morality. 

Life  and  property  are  as  safe  as  in  any  part  of  the  United 
States.  Taxes  are  unusually  small,  and  we  are  out  of  debt,  with 
a  balance  in  the  treasury.  With  a  few  exceptions  among  the 
most  ignorant,  the  great  majority  of  the  people,  and  all  the  better 
classes  extend  a  hearty  welcome  to  Northern  immigrants  who 
are  men  of  energy  and  industry.  Capital,  however,  is  no  dis- 
qualification. With  one-fourth  the  investment  and  one-fourth 
the  labor  here,  a  good  farmer  can  reap  ten  times  the  value  of  the 
same  investment  North.  Land  can  be  bought  at  from  25  cents 
to  $3.00  per  acre. 

During  a  residence  of  ten  years,  I  have  failed  to  see  or  hear  of 
an  instance,  in  this  section,  of  "intimidation"  or  "shot-gun  policy," 
to  white  or  black.  Perfect  freedom  of  speech — political  or 
religious.  We  need  a  fence  law  (to  fence  stock)  and  a  dog  law — 
for  this  country  is  magnificent  for  sheep-raising. 

JAMES  O.  CLARKE,  Doctor  Town,  Ga. 

[Want  of  space  forbids  the  insertion  of  a  very  interesting  letter 
from  Mr.  S.  S.  Moore,  who  came  from  Ohio  in  1866.  His  post- 
ornce  is  Jesup,  Ga.] 


84  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

LETTERS  TO  WAYCROSS  REPORTER. 


EDITOR  REPORTER: 

Your  enterprising  efforts  for  the  development  of  Southern 
Georgia,  your  commendable  zeal  to  convert  a  large  part  of  our 
State  from  the  extensive  pine  barrenness,  hitherto  valuable  only 
for  timber,  and  in  the  near  future  valueless  for  that,  into  gardening 
and  farming  purposes  should  give  you  a  strong  hold  upon  the 
approval  and  material  support  of  every  Georgian,  but  especially 
of  those  of  us  living  in  those  counties  bordering  on  the  Florida 
line  and  the  Atlantic  coast.  These  Southern  and  Southeastern 
counties  are  now  yielding  to  the  demands  of  the  world  at  large  a 
value  in  building  materials  of  which  our  fathers  forty  years  ago 
never  dreamed.  And  now  that  this  element  of  value  will  soon 
be  removed  under  the  enterprise  and  laboring  hand  of  the  mill 
man,  shall  we,  as  our  fathers  did  in  the  past,  say  of  these  vast 
tracts  of  land :  they  can  never  be  utilized,  they  are  only  valuable 
for  the  timber,  the  last  and  only  value  attached  to  them  is  gone. 
We  will  from  henceforth  turn  them  over  in  fee  simple  to  the  wire-, 
grass.  Such  a  conclusion  is  unjustifiable.  These  lands  can  and 
should  support  herds  of  cattle  and  sheep  with  a  value  to  their 
owners,  or  should  be  marked  up  into  small  lots  of  seventy  acres 
each  and  made  valuable  by  contributing  to  the  support  and 
maintenance  of  thrifty  and  industrious  families. 

If  we  turn  our  attention  to  the  mountainous  districts  of  North- 
ern Georgia  and  Middle  Tennessee,  we  will  there  find  large  num- 
bers of  families  making  decent  and  substantial  support  on  farms 
varying  in  size  from  seven  to  fifteen  acres  at  inconvenient  dis- 
tances from  market,  and  their  small  farms  frequently  washed  and 
marked  up  by  large  gullies,  or  lying  along  such  precipitous  hill- 
sides that  it  is  almost  impossible  to  have  them  traversed  by  plow- 
horse  or  ox.  Although  these  farms  are  so  small  and  surrounded 
by  many  serious  inconveniences,  yet,  when  near  the  towns  or  cities 
or  along  the  railroads  and  rivers,  their  market  value  varies  from 
twenty-five  to  one  hundred  dollars  per  acre.  The  lands  lying 
along  the  great  railroads  of  Southern  Georgia  which  have  been 
placed  at  your  disposal  to  be  deeded  to  bona  fide  immigrants  and 
settlers  are  far  superior  to,  and  more  valuable  than,  the  lands 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  85 

lying  among  the  mountains  of  this  or  any  other  State;  where 
thousands  of  people  are  living  and  supporting  large  families. 

Those  large  land  owners  have  showrn  great  wisdom  in  placing 
their  lands  at  your  disposal,  and  when  the  current  of  immigra- 
tion shall  turn  in  this  direction,  as  it  will  most  certainly  do  in  the 
near  future,  they  will  reap  a  great  harvest  in  the  increased  value 
of  the  alternate  lots  retained  by  them  "and  thousands  will  rise  up 
and  call  them  blessed."  It  is  not  at  all  surprising  that  there 
should  arise  opposition  to  the  scheme  of  immigration,  for  we  have 
only  to  reflect  for  a  moment  and  we  are  reminded  that  opposition 
has  always  raised  its  growling  head  at  every  reformatory  move 
in  church  or  state.  There  will  always  be  those  who  have  nothing 
to  do  but  to  lay  hold  and  pull  back  the  car  of  enterprise  and 
development.  There  can  be  in  the  nature  of  the  case  no  good 
reason  why  the  vast  tracts  of  unimproved  lands  lying  immediately 
on  the  Savannah,  Florida  and  Western  and  Brunswick  and  Al- 
bany Railroads  should  not  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  Northern 
and  Eastern  farmers,  and  be  made  contributary  to  the  material 
support  of  our  largely  increasing  population. 

Brooks  county  to-day  can  furnish  homes  and  farms  for  a 
thousan4  immigrant  families  and  the  present  holders  have  their 
estates  increased  in  value  thirty-three  and  a  half  per  cent.  Not 
long  since,  in  company  with  an  enterprising  man  from  Fall  River, 
Mass.,  while  riding  over  a  part  of  this  county  we  heard  him  say 
of  our  undeveloped  resources  and  uncleared  lands :  "'All  you 
need  in  this  country  is  men  and  money."  Nature  has  placed 
within  easy  grasp,  to  the  need  of  the  industrious  and  frugal 
farmer,  a  greater  variety  of  wealth  producing  products  in  South- 
ern Georgia  than  can  be  found  in  any  Northern  or  Western 
State,  and  if  it  were  not  taking  too  much  of  your  space,  it  would 
be  a  pleasing  talk  to  make  the  comparison :  Here  we  have  no 
inclement  season,  the  farmer  can  labor  every  month  of  the  year, 
he  can  make  two  valuable  crops  on  the  same  and  in  one  year ; 
here  he  can  with  almost  a  certainty  produce  corn,  cotton,  sugar 
cane,  sweet  potatoes,  pinders,  field  peas  in  great  variety,  Irish 
potatoes,  oats,  rye,  tobacco,  jute,  hemp,  rice  on  either  low  or  upland ; 
here  gardening  for  market  is  fast  becoming  a  great  source  ol 
wealth,  here  the  dairy  and  poultry  yard  yield  a  handsome  profit. 
In  a  few  short  years  the  lines  of  railroad  entering  to  Savannah 
and  Brunswick  will  demand  a  line  of  steamships  connecting  these 


86  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

ports  with  Europe,  then  we  shall  have  a  market  for  the  products 
of  the  farm,  the  garden,  the  dairy  and  the  poultry  yard  on  the 
continent,  as  we  now  have  for  our  yellow  pine  lumber. 

Development  is  the  order  of  the  day,  the  watchword  of  the 
hour.  The  car  of  material  prosperity  moves,  and  we  must  move 
with  it.  Pardon  the  length  of  this  communication,  and  believe 
me  in  sympathy  with  your  plans  and  efforts  to  improve  the 
country  and  benefit  the  people.  JOHN  G.  McCALL. 

QUITMAN,  GA.,  July  28,  1881. 

[NOTE. — There  is  already  steam  communication  between  Sa- 
vannah and  Europe  during  the  cotton  season,  and  soon  will  be 
regular  steam  lines  between  both  Brunswick  and  Savannah  to 
Europe.] 


DEADHAM,  MASS.,  August  18,  1881. 
JUDGE  JOSEPH  TILLMAN: 

MY  DEAR  SIR: 

Your  papers  have  been  received  weekly  and  distributed  to  the 
best  advantage,  and  I  will  continue  to  distribute  what  you  may 
choose  to  forward  me  for  distribution.  The  people  he?je  are  be- 
ginning to  take  a  lively  interest  in  the  South  for  the  last  few 
months,  which  will  aid  you  greatly  in  peopling  your  country. 
The  Reporter  is  very  highly  prized  by  the  people  of  this  country, 
and  you  will  doubtless  get  a  great  many  subscribers.  Everybody 
wants  to  see  the  Reporter,  from  the  bankers  down  to  the  garden 
farmers.  It  has  awakened  a  great  deal  of  interest  and  a  lively 
inquiry  about  Southeast  Georgia,  and  many  excellent  families 
are  looking  anxiously  in  that  direction  for  the  doors  of  your 
pooling  scheme  to  be  thrown  open  and  they  invited  to  come  in 
and  partake  with  your  people  in,  as  you  choose  to  call  it,  God's 
country.  You  seem  to  be  doing  all  within  your  power  to  put  life  into 
your  people,  and  I  hope  they  will  soon  wake  up  to  a  realizing  sense 
of  their  situation  and  invite  people  to  come  and  help  build  up  their 
country  and  become  rich  in  worldly  effects  together.  South- 
eastern Georgia  is  capable  of  raising  and  feeding  fifty  people 
where  it  does  one  now,  and  the  forty-nine  are  ready  to  go  if  you  will 
hold  out  any  inducements  for  them  to  go  and  share  with  you. 
Once  get  the  first  half  of  them  and  the  rest  are  sure  to  follow  and 
pay  well  for  the  privilege  of  making  a  home  with  you.  I  hope 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  87 

to  see  your  people  come  up  to  the  work  at  once,  as  it  is  now  the 
fall  of  the  year,  which  is  the  season  Northern  people  should 
start  in,  in  the  South,  to  become  acclimated.  Do  not  let  it  pass 
by  this  season,  as  it  will  carry  you  one  year  further  along,  or,  in 
other  words,  you  will  be  one  year  behind. 

Most  respectfully  yours, 

C.  C.  SANDERSON. 


WAYCROSS,  GA., August  17,  1881. 
JUDGE  TILLMAN: 

DEAR  SIR  : 

I  read  with  pleasure  your  remarks  in  last  week's  issue  of  the 
Reporter  on  grape  culture  in  this  section  of  country.  I  will  say 
to  you  and  your  many  readers,  that  I  was  raised,  or,  as  we 
Yankees  would  say,  brought  up,  in  Ulster  county,  New  York, 
which  is  considered  as  good,  if  not  the  best  grape  growing  sec- 
tion North,  and  have,  since  my  youth,  traveled  in  nearly  every 
State  in  the  Union,  have  lived  several  years  in  California,  and  five 
years  in  South  America — a  good  portion  of  the  time  in  Peru.  I 
now  come  to  what  I  want  to  say,  and  will  say  it,  because  I  believe 
it,  and  that  is,  that  this  is,  by  far,  naturally,  the  best  grape  grow- 
ing country  I  have  ever  seen.  I  am  much  interested  on  this 
subject,  and  would  like  to  see  the  experiment  tried  here  by  a 
dozen  or  more  skilled  grape  growers  from  Ulster  county,  N.  Y., 
for  I  feel  well  assured — yea,  I  know  it  would  prove  out  a  grand 
success.  I  have  weighed  bunches  of  the  Concord  grape  grown 
in  this  town,  gathered  from  the  Lott  vineyard,  which  has  never 
received  a  fourth  of  the  attention  given  to  vineyards  at  home> 
which  weighed  as  much  as  twenty-two  ounces  to  the  bunch,  with 
every  grape  properly  and  uniformly  matured.  Such  a  thing  as  a 
mildew  and  rot  has  never  been  known  here.  Grapes  of  different 
varieties  ripen  here  every  year,  and  are  very  sweet  and  juicy.  I 
have  never  known  or  heard  of  the  vines  or  fruit  being  attacked 
by  insects  of  any  kind.  I  regard  this  immediate  section  as  being 
the  natural  home  of  the  grape,  with  a  congenial  soil  and  climate 
combined.  What  I  have  said  on  this  subject  I  believe  to  be  true. 

Yours  truly, 

D.  C.  TOMPKINS. 

NOTE. — Mr.  fompkins  has  located  permanently  at  Waycross. 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 


•v^nn.1  i  iL,rv  YX.  o.r\.  \  rxi'N  JL-N.TI.A  A. 

Statement,  by  Articles  and  Countries,  of  Commodities,  the  Growth,  Produce  and  Manufacture  of  the  United  States, 
Exported  to  Foreign  Countries  from  Savannah  for  the  year  ending  August  31,  1881. 

TIMBKR. 

D 

13 

$  .  •.  .3".jg'  :•  .8  '. 

0 

<  K  H    SS»S§5S3?2S?2SoiSS8S5M« 

$  27,716,43 

£ 

o«H    ^''" 

5 

<^ 

Cub.  Ft 

§    •   •   -Q    -jg    •   -g    

l 

*        -           uv 

jg"  1  s  'ss§  ss  's  '  '  'a 

0 

R 

& 

^1          rH 

< 

s  ^ 

ARTI 

CO        rH        i-H                               rHiO        rH                    N 

LUMBER. 

eJ 

3 

OS      •  rH      -1C      •  1~-      •      '(NOO'NCIOO      •      •  Oi 

t-^     '  C3_     •  O_     'rH       '      •  <N^rH_tH_>O_00_O_     '      '  rH_ 

§ 

rt 

«3 
I 

J 

3 
Q 

oog    •    '    -o    

1 

S'^S"    •     *     '           

1  :i  :|  ^s  :  :gSi$Sl  •  -1 

i 

» 

g      .      .      -cc      .,35      «. 

rH 

d 

3 

OJ 

1 

;  ;  ;  ;g  § 

!- 

.    .    •    .  o~  

j  TURPENTINE. 

3 
1 

i 

i 

K^ 

'  •  •  •**  

§ 

§.    .    .*r 

55 

cn 

3 
O 

1 

CO      •      •      '  00      •  O      CO 

1 

l:::   ;s  :::::::::: 

r/, 

£ 
13 

00                                                                        <M 

o 

•«*<      .  t-  0  q}      .  0  rH  10      0  0  r-   - 

ROSIN. 

3 

i 

«l  •0iTt.05-  •t-.°5.M«  *l-.?v 

CO        CIMiO        OOSCO                                COOO 
*^      *  O  O^l            '  rH  rH            •      • 

*•*    •'                         '                         

5 

0 
PL. 

5 

:  :  :  .g  1 

1 

3. 

!:|g5  -ill  •  •  •  •  -lil" 

I 

ARD. 

"Value. 

.  —  — 

.  .  .  -^  

*^        CO 

% 

UPLAND  COTTON. 

CJ 
_3 

| 



CC 

S1, 

1 

e 

3 

•  •  •  -s?  

co" 

HAMS. 

^s 

.    .    .    -g    jo 

1 

.  1  Pounds. 

i§iiii§ii  ••  • 

....*%  

rn 

•    •    •    -g    g 

co" 

OJ 

...     .Of    rH~ 

M 

S  CO  rH  S  CO  rH  CO  "^  M      

1 

M'G  OIL. 

OJ 

:  :  :  :j  :::::::::::  :« 

% 



1  SEA  ISLAND  COTTON. 

D 

15 

gj;£>    

S, 

—  .  .  —  .  — 

1 

t-^of 

— 

H 

^                                                                               rH 

^  *~ 

5 

j 

S 

M 

^?.       

Pounds. 

5 

1  ° 

00  IO 

cc 

n 

O 

5s 

H 

°i 

o  o 

> 

Jl 

r-T          

1 

SI  :::::::::::::::: 

10" 

8 

3 

8 

0 

§      

to 

COUNTRIES. 

1 

.    ' 

S  .  .      .  <•>  .  .  .  . 

^          rt     ^ 

13 

COUNTRIES 

SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  89 

Receipts  of  Cotton  at  the  Port  of  Savannah  from  September  i, 
1880,  to  August  31,  1881. 

Upland.    Sea  Island. 

Central  Railroad 676,707  .   .   . 

Savannah,  Florida  and  Western 155,061  5,705 

Charleston  and  Savannah I8,5i7  .    .   . 

Augusta  steamers 20,716 

Coasters .         365 

Carts 4,218 

Ginned  in  city  ....;:............     ... 

Florida   steamers .      3,077 

Other  sources  .  1,811 


870,472 
Stock  on  hand  September  i,  1881 11,588 


892,060  14,194 


Exports  of   Cotton,  Foreign  and  Coastwise,  from  the  Port  of 
Savannah  from  Sept.  i,  1880,  to  August  31,  1881,  inclusive. 

Foreign —  Upland.    Sea  Island. 

Liverpool 195,376  5,J33 

Havre 37,163                  703 

Ghent 1,943 

Corunna 628 

Malaga 1,500 

Barcelona 29,022 

Passajes 1,250 

Santander '       *    ...  1,100 

Sebastapol 5,ooo 

Reval 48,418 

Cronstadt 9,372 

Bremen 115,283 

Geneva 3,475 

Genoa 11,883 

Rotterdam 5,480 

Amsterdam 26,868 

Helsingiors 1,800 

Gothenburg 3,ooo 

Total 498,561  5,836 

Coastwise — 

New  York 248,875 

Baltimore 69,465 

Philadelphia 30,706 

Boston 32,865 


Total    coastwise 381,911 

Total  foreign 498,561 

Total 880,472  13,839 


9o 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 


Exports  of  Lumber  and   Timber  from  the  Port  of  Savannah 
from  September  ist  to  date. 


Coastwise — 


Lumber. 


Timber. 


New  York 16,416,281  3,308,292 

Philadelphia 6,828,727  116,499 

Baltimore 5,887,506  315,415 

Boston 5)290,587  .    .    . 

Marcus   Hook 193,100  .    .   . 

Washington,  D.  C 477,790  .   .    . 

Belfast,   Me 107,672  .   .   . 

Portsmouth,  N.  H 168,969  .   .    . 

Bath,    Me 2,221,870  .   .    . 

New  Haven 623,315  120,141 

Noank 11,144  435,573 

Portland 241,634  .    .    . 

Cottenville,  S.  I, 162,596  .   .    . 

New  Bedford 129,967  .   „  . 

Kennebunk,   Me 255,000  .   .    . 

Fall  River 1,056,135  .   .   . 

Wilmington,  Del 193,225  .   .    . 

Total 40,265,518  4,295,920 

Foreign — 

Great    Britain 1,305,090  2,741,651 

New   Brunswick 173,278  30,078 

Spain 7,3^,705  312,498 

Portugal 219,275  .    .   . 

Buenos  Ayres 843,156  11,708 

Montevideo 1,482,992 

Barranquilla 12,443 

Gaudaloupe 60,000 

Greytown 120,000 

Aspinwall 179,870 

West  Indies 773,358 

Santander 204,424 

Germany 646,441 

Holland 10,489  231,783 

Africa 182,962 

Total  foreign 13,524,483  3,327,718 

Total  coastwise 40,265,518  4,295,920 

Grand  total 53,79o,ooi  7,623,638 

Shipments  from  Darien  and  Doboy  (yellow  pine)  85,771,873  .       .   . 

Tabular  Statement  of  Receipts  of  Naval  Stores  at  Savannah 
from  September  /,  1874,  to  September  i,  1881. 

Spirits  Turpentine.    Rosin. 

September  i   1874,  to  September  i    1875 9,555  4*, 707 

September  i   1875,  to  September  i    1876 15,521  59,792 

September  i   1876,  to  September  i    1877 19,984  98,888 

September  i   1877,  to  September  i    1878 3I>I38  *77,io4 

September  i   1878,  to  September  i    1879 14,368  177,447 

September  i   1879,  to  September  i    1880 46,321  231,421 

September  i   1880,  to  September  i    1881 5,470  282,386, 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 


Stock  of  Spirits    Turpentine  on   hand  September  ist,  1881,  by 

Actual  Count. 

Barrels. 

On  Shipboard  not  cleared 300 

Savannah,  Florida  and  Western  Railway  wh  irf 3,582 

Savannah,  Florida  and  Western  Railway  depot 246 

Central  Railroad 168 

Plant's    wharf  ....*' 40 

Katie's    wharf 50 

Jackson's    wharf 30 

Total 4,416 


Comparative    Table   of  Receipts  from   September  i,    i88oy   to 
September  i,  1881. 


Wilmington 

Tu. 

1879-* 

CK  ^Sd. 

rpentine. 
to  i  880-81 
82,194 
54,703 
5i,H3 
19,622 

13,490 

Rosin. 
1879-80     1880-81 

507,702      435,290 
231,420      282,386 
250,940      231,384 
158,482       133,816 
36,495        67,562 

Savannah 

A.6  ^21 

Charleston 

CQ  86  ^ 

Mobile  

.  2S.IOQ 

Brunswick 

8661 

Totals 235,540  221,122      1,185,039    1,150,438 


An  analysis  of  this  statement  shows  that  Wilmington  has  fallen  off  in 
spirits  turpentine  14  per  cent.,  and  in  rosin  14  per  cent. 

Charleston  has  fallen  off  in  spirits  turpentine  14^  per  cent.,  and  rosin 
7>£  per  cent. 

Mobile  has  fallen  off  in  spirits  turpentine  22)^  per  cent.,  rosin  18^ 
per  cent. 

While  the  only  increase  has  been  at  the  Georgia  ports — Savannah 
gaining  18  per  cent,  in  spirits  turpentine,  and  22  per  cent,  in  rosin ; 
Brunswick  55  per  cent,  in  spirits  turpentine,  and  85  per  cent,  in  rosin. 


Tonnage  of  the  Port  of  Savannah  from  September  i,  1880,  to 
August  31,  1881. 

No.  Tons.  Men. 

American  vessels  entered 23  13,452  266 

American  vessels  cleared 32  18,728  367 

Foreign  vessels  entered • 292  205,602  4,224 

Foreign  vessels  cleared 270  191,344  3,977 

Total  foreign 617  429,126  8,834 

Coastwise  arrivals 344  469,953  10,432 

Coastwise  clearances 333  467,019  10,439 

Total  coastwise 677  936,972  20,871 

Total  foreign 617  429,126  8,834 

Grand  total  .    .                                                    .  1,294  1.366,098      29,70-5 


92 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 


Statement  of  Wool  received  at  Savannah,  from  August,  1874,  to 
August,  1 88 1,  inclusive : 

1874 405,165  pounds.  1878  .  .  576,602  pounds. 

1875 413,912         '•  1879 544,169         " 

1876 367,582        "  1880 810,983 

1877 419,446        "  1881 724,815 

Imports  from  September  /,  1880,  to  August  j/,  1881. 

Articles.  Quantity.         Value. 

Coffee,    pounds 2,689,804      $307,196 

Kainit,  tons 3,441          22,770 

Superphosphate,  tons 3,749          64,712 

Guano/tons 1,516          31,027 

Steel  rails,  pounds 8,989,328        154,667 

Steel  blooms 154,549 

Cotton    ties 56,134 

Salt,   pounds 26,853,291          41,707 

Molasses,  gallons 52,207          10,185 

Wine,  in  casks,  gallons 215  247 

Wine,  in  bottles,  dozens 192  1,057 

Coal,  tons 2,280  5,625 

Earthenware  and  china 2,133 

Bananas 5,918 

Oranges   .    .    . 1,595 

Pine-apples 52 

Grape  fruit •          ...  63 

Sapodillas -  - 

Cocoanuts • 6,871 

Shells   . 

Tomatoes 47 

Watermelons ... 

Sponges ... 

Tamarinds ... 

Stone  ballast '  .    . .  .         ?   .    . 

Soda  water 576 

Spruce    pine 

Clothing 

Cigars 

Sugar 480 

Stationery ... 

Oil  paintings  .       ... 

Boats 

Blue  mottled  soap 

Garden  tiles 

Glassware 

Gin 166 

Dogs ...  20 

Zoedone   

Hides 25 

Grain   bags • 2,731 

Total  value  .  .  $872,401 


SOU1HERN  GEORGIA.  93 


BRUNSWICK. 

Annual  Statement  of  the    Commerce  of  the  Port   of 

Brunswick. 


During  the  year  1880  341  vessels  entered  this  port.  Of  these, 
55  entered  from  foreign  and  286  from  coastwise  ports.  Two  hun- 
dred and  eighty-seven  carried  our  own  flag,  22  that  of  Great 
Britain,  14  of  Spain,  10  of  Norway,  5  of  Sweden,  2  of  Germany, 
and  i  of  Portugal.  Of  the  341  vessels,  5  were  ships,  41  barks, 
48  brigs,  and  247  schooners.  The  total  tonnage  of  these  vessels 
was  io%,775,  and  the  number  of  men  employed  by  them  2,717. 

There  were  332  clearances,  61  for  foreign  and  271  for  domestic 
ports.  The  number  of  vessels  in  port  on  January  i,  1881,  was  21, 
of  which  9  were  loading  for  foreign  and  12  for  coastwise  ports. 
Of  those  bound  foreign,  4  were  destined  for  United  Kingdom,  2 
for  Montevideo,  i  for  Rio  Janeiro,  i  for  Cuba,  and  i  for  Spain. 

Of  the  332  vessels  which  cleared  during  the  year,  115  were 
loaded  by  R.  B.  Reppard,  73  by  Dodge  &  Fuller,  49  by  D.  C. 
Bacon,  28  by  J.  H.  McCullough,  18  by  Littlefield  &  Tison,  13  by 
Cook  Bros.  &  Co.,  5  by  James  Hunter,  4  by  C.  H.  Dexter,  3  by 
J.  McDonough,  2  by  Charles  Green  &  Co.,  2  by  Tunno  &  Co.,  2 
by  A.  V.  Wood,  i  by  J.  D.  Sprunt,  and  i  by  Hilton  Timber  and 
Lumber  Co.  Sixteen  cleared  in  ballast. 

Of  the  61  vessels  which  cleared  for  foreign  ports,  12  cleared 
for  Spain,  10  for  United  Kingdom,  9  for  Rio  Janeiro,  9  for  West 
Indies,  6  for  Uruguay,  4  for  west  coast  of  Africa,  3  for  Portugal, 
2  for  Buenos  Ayres,  and  i  each  for  Pernambuco,  Bahai,  Ger- 
many, Canary  Islands,  Dutch  Guiana  and  Halifax. 

The  number  of .  vessels  entered  in  1879  was  220,  the  number 
cleared  225.  There  were,  therefore,  121  more  arrivals  and  107 
more  departures  of  vessels  in  1880  than  in  1879,  an  increase  of 
over  fifty  per  cent. 

In  the  foregoing  statement  no  account  is  made  of  the  several 
steamers  making  regular  trips  to  and  from  our  port. 


94  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

Comparative  Statement  of  Exports  for  1879  and  1880. 


ARTICLES. 

1880 

1879 

AMOUNT. 

VALUE. 

AMOUNT. 

VALUE. 

Lumber,  foreign    
''         coastwise    

12,208,964  feet 
56,500,000  feet 
3,265,060  feet 
6,074  bales 
602  casks 
8,165  casks 
6,330  barrels 
37,039  barrels 
78,246  Ibs. 
8,064  bushels 
30,770  gallons 

$184,522 
860,000 
38,787 
304,000 
7.386 
98,000 
23,637 

111,000 

23,000 
8,064 

28,000 

16,079,139  feet 
31,000,000  feet 
2,468.536  feet 
5,899  bales 
2,720  casks 
6,841  casks 
15,019  barrels 
27,507  barrels 
68,000  Ibs. 
8,367  bushels 
21,760  gallons 

$227,872 
465,000 
21,059 
339-ooo 
32,912 
102,605 
42,776 
80,000 
21,760 
10,450 
19,500 

Cotton,  coastwise  
Spirits  Turpentine,  foreign    . 
coastwise 
Rosin  foreign 

Wool,  coastwise     
Rough  Rice,  coastwise   .   .    . 
Whale  Oil,  coastwise  .... 
Sundries,     foreign     (including 

6,467 
25,000 

Sundries,  coastwise  (including 
hides  tallow  and  wax) 

10,000 



Tatal  Value     

$1,702,570 

.   .  i  $1,394,401 

[NOTE. — The  business  statement  of  Brunswick  for  1881  is  not 
yet  made  up,  but  the  indications  are  that  the  increase  will  average 
above  20  per  cent,  on  the  business  of  1880,  and  in  lumber  and 
naval  stores,  far  in  excess  of  that,  while  the  number  of  vessels 
and  tonnage  has  increased  in  still  greater  proportion.] 


SOUTHERN  GEORGIA.  95 


CHAPTER  XI. 

List  of  Persons  who  may  be  Addressed  for  Information 
in  Relation  to  Southern  Georgia. 


M.  &  B.  R.  R.— A.  G.  Butts Macon,  Ga. 

Griffin  &  McArthur, Eastman,  " 

A.  G.  McArthur, Lumber  City,  " 

Wm.  Pitt  Eastman, Eastman,  " 

Maj.  Chas.  Armstrong, Eastman,  " 

A.  G.  P.  Dodge, Eastman,  " 

Paul  Carter,     . Baxley,  " 

C.  C.  Smith, McRae,  " 

Hon.  A.  Clark, Jesup,  " 

W.  H.  Whaley  &  Son, Jesup,  " 

Willis  Clary,  Esq., Jesup,  " 

Henry  R.  Fort,  Esq., Gardi,  " 

G.  W.  Wright, Sterling,  " 

H.  C.  Day, Brunswick,  " 

J.  M.  Dexter, Brunswick,  " 

Dr.  W.  B.  Burroughs,     ....  Brunswick,  " 

B.  &  A.  R.  R.— Hon.  John  M.  Tison, Jamaica,  " 

R.  M.  Tison, .Jamaica,  " 

Hon.  T.  W.  Lamb, Brunswick.  " 

S.  Mumford, Waynesville,  " 

Joseph  Tillman, Waycross,  " 

E.  Crawley, Waresboro,  " 

Col.  W.  A.  McDonald,  ....  Waresboro,  " 

W.  H.  Love, Pearson,  " 

W.  H.  Lastinger, Alapaha,  " 

Hon.  W.  A.  Harris, Isabella,  " 

Warren  &  Hobbs, Albany,  " 


96  SOUTHERN  GEORGIA. 

S.  F.&W.Ry.— Col.  J.L.  Sweat, Homerville,  Ga. 

Hon.  C.  A.  Smith, Homerville,  " 

J.  W.  Leigh,  Esq.,    ....  Centre  Village,  " 
Hon.  John  L.  Harden,  .    .    .  Walthourville,  " 

H.  H.  Sanford, Thomasville,  " 

John  Stark,  Esq., Thomasville,  " 

Judge  A.  H.  Hansell,   ....  Thomasville,  " 
Hon.  W.  D.  Mitchell,  ....  Thomasville,  " 

R.  H.  Hardaway, Thomasville,  " 

John  Triplet, Thomasville,  " 

Rev.  Jas.  A.  McKee, Bainbridge,  " 

Hon.  B.  A.  Russel, Bainbridge,  " 

Dr.  J.  A.  Butts, Bainbridge,  " 

Hon.  Maston  O'Neil, Bainbridge,  " 

R.  H.  Harris, Cairo,  " 

Lyon  &  Bush, Camilla,  " 

J.  L.  Hand, Pelham,  " 

"  T.  A.  Herviant, D.uPont,  " 

"  S.  T.  Kingsbury,     .......  Quitman,  " 

A.  D.  Perham, Quitman,  " 

John  G.  McCail,  ........  Quitman,  " 

C.  R.  Pendleton, Valdosta,  " 

Hon.  Hamp  Smith, Valdosta,  " 

C.  A.  Stewart,  ...••'...  Valdosta,  " 

T.  P.  Littlefield, Jesup,  " 

Hon.  John  C.  Nicholls,  ....  Blackshear,  " 

S.  W.  Hitch, Blackshear,  " 

R.  B.  Repparcl,      . Savannah,  " 

E.  E.  Byrd, Blackshear,  " 

"  Warren  Lott, Waycross,  " 

Camden  County — Hon.  R.  N.  King, St.  Mary's,  " 

Silas  Fordham, St.  Mary's,  " 

Hon.  Joseph  Shepard,     ....  St.  Mary's,  " 

W.  A.  White, St.  Mary's,  " 

James  Bailey, Bailey's  Mills,  " 


INDEX  TO  CHAPTERS. 


CHAPTER  PAGE         =| 

I.     The  Railroad  System  of  South  Ge  jrgia 5-7       =| 

II.     General  Description  of  South  Georgia 7-9      E] 

III.  Stations,  Towns  and  Points  of  Interest  on  S.,  F.  &  W.  Ry.       9-27       = 

IV.  "  M.  &  B.  R.  R.    .  28-37       1 
V.            "                                  •'  B.  &  A.  R.  R.    .  38-44 

VI.     Description  of  Pierce  County,  as  a  sample  of  South  Georgia 

Counties     45~52 

VII.     Articles  upon  Special  Industries  in  South  Georgia— Sheep 

Husbandry,  etc 53-63      = 

VIII      Islands  on  Southern  Coast  of  Georgia 63-66      E 

IX.     Letters  from  Northern  Settlers  and  others 67-87 

X.     Statement  of  Exports,  Imports  and  Tonnage,  Savannah  and 

Brunswick 88  94 

XI.     List  of  Persons  who  may  be  Addressed  at  Points  on  Lines 

of  Road  .  95-96 


M189359 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW 

AN  INITIAL  FINE  OF  25  CENTS 

WILL  BE  ASSESSED  FOR  FAILURE  TO  RETURN 
THIS  BOOK  ON  THE  DATE  DUE.  THE  PENALTY 
WILL  INCREASE  TO  SO  CENTS  ON  THE  FOURTH 
DAY  AND  TO  $1.OO  ON  THE  SEVENTH  DAY 
OVERDUE. 


